Swindon breakfast club expands to meet demand

The Big Breakfast is going to expand to reach demand

A charity offering free breakfasts to those in need in Swindon has expanded to open seven days a week.

The Big Breakfast Plus at the Pilgrim Centre is serving hot meals every morning to dozens of people at a time.

Organisers say they have seen a surge in demand not just from people who are homeless, but also those wanting company and those struggling with the cost of living.

It has grown thanks to support from major Swindon employer Zurich.

Francesca, 34, has been coming to the breakfasts over the last two months, having been evicted from her rented flat.

"They honestly do so much, we're so grateful and so appreciative," she tells me.

Francesca said she is "so appreciative" of the scheme

Francesca is now living in temporary accommodation and is full of praise for the volunteers working to provide the food and welcome.

Speaking to Radio Wiltshire, she says "We can have a breakfast here and then get a sandwich to take out with us."

The Big Breakfast Plus originally started out in 1993 but closed down during the pandemic, reopening at the Pilgrim Centre on Regent Circus in January 2022.

"On our first day, we had one person", recalls Chair of Trustees Charlotte Mannion, looking around a room full of around 60 people having breakfast.

"We're now open seven days a week and this is the level of numbers we're used to."

Some days, they have counted more than 100 people through the door, all with different reasons for turning up.

"There's the cost-of-living impact," says Charlotte as she describes an elderly couple worried about turning on their cooker who'd asked for their eggs to be boiled at the cafe.

"Others come because they want the company," she adds.

Charlotte describes a letter on the wall from a young woman who'd grown up in care.

"She comes in around once a week," she says of the woman, who is regularly coming in for support from the volunteers.

"She just felt for the first time somebody was showing an interest."

"We had one guy turn up, 81 years old, and he said he had no friends", says Service Coordinator Wayne Twitchell.

"Now we have a table with six or eight of that generation, and they go out doing stuff together".

Wayne Twitchell is doing an apprenticeship after spending time in prison

Wayne knows the challenges facing some of the other visitors who are trying to rebuild their lives.

He's doing an apprenticeship to try for a fresh start after serving a prison sentence for assault.

"It's extremely humbling somebody's given me that chance, I didn't expect to be full time working again", the 39 year old says while serving breakfast.

"I can empathise with some of the guests. Everyone's got history in their life."

The Big Breakfast has been able to grow thanks to funding from the charity arm of the large Zurich insurance firm based in Swindon town centre which has been supporting local charities for 50 years.

Steve Grimmett from Zurich said the company's employees wanted to see them support charities

Head of the Zurich Community Trust, Steve Grimmett, says employees wanted to see them "support charities supporting people recovering from poor mental health, living with dementia, or who have fallen on hard times"

"Coming here and seeing the impact they're having, we've absolutely selected the right partner."