'Safe space' lunch hub struggling to meet demand

Peter, 58, said he has "always felt welcomed" at the lunch hub

A church initiative fighting social isolation and poverty has seen a rise in demand and is "struggling to cope and needs expansion", one of the volunteers has said.

Every Thursday, people who are lonely, homeless, elderly and those with mental health issues are given a hot meal at the St. Mark's Church in Peterborough.

The Lincoln Road Church launched Millfield Hub five years ago and feeds about 100 people each week.

Peter, 58, who has been homeless since June last year described the lunch hub as a "safe space".

The lunch hub is volunteer-led and makes it a "personal and warm experience" for the attendees, the organisers said

The church invites professionals to offer health and wellbeing guidance, housing and employment advice and craft sessions such as sewing.

The church relies on its volunteers and said they "get personal satisfaction" from their work

Peter said: "You don’t get many hot meals in a week. So it’s nice to have that and feel welcomed and it is nice to have somewhere to go.

"It’s a safe space for everyone and a relaxed environment."

Shirley Nutt is another regular who said: "I’ll be 90 in January, I am disabled and nearly blind so it’s a bit of company for me."

Shirley Nutt lives on her own and enjoys the company she gets at the hub

'Didn't judge me'

Tony Whittle, who started as a service user about five months ago is now volunteering for the church.

He said: "It gives me something to do rather than sitting at home and going mad as I can’t work.

"It is away from what I used to have as a life.. because I have done some bad things. Got over it all and it keeps me away from those sort of people. So it’s a total change for me. I just really like coming.

"I can’t change my past. We all make mistakes. I am not even religious. But they didn’t judge me when I told them about it and were happy for me to volunteer."

Roger Kaye said the service wants to help as many people as possible

Roger Kaye, senior volunteer at the church, said they were expecting attendees to further rise in winter.

The service is looking at funding bids to make the initiative sustainable.

"One of the problems for us now is capacity. This hall can seat only 56 people.

"Our concern is are we able to accommodate all the people who have a need?

"A number of people here are homeless and usually people don’t treat them well. And to treat them as if they go to a posh restaurant really is nice for us to do."

Angie Wilkinson said she attends the hub every week and the tea service on a Monday and has made new friends