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Food delivery service will provide restaurant-quality meals for the homeless
A new initiative will supply meals to the homeless and vulnerable during the UK’s lockdown.
Caring in Bristol and some of the city’s most loved restaurants have come together to create ‘Cheers Drive’, a Bristol-wide food delivery service delivering restaurant-quality meals to the homeless.
Officially launching on Monday, April 6, the collaboration will be led by Josh Eggleton of the Michelin-starred Pony & Trap and aims to feed 600 homeless people per day, including those placed into temporary accommodation by the council.
is needed now More than ever
The Cheers Drive initiative comes after food banks and traditional food services for the homeless, such as voluntary drops, have been struggling as a result of the Government’s lockdown regulations.
Every person will receive one Cheers Drive delivery per day, which will include one hot meal, as well as a packed lunch and breakfast.
Josh Eggleton, from the Pony & Trap, Salt & Malt, and featured on Channel’ 4’s The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes will lead the project, managing three kitchens producing food for the project throughout the city, including his own at the Kensington Arms.
Josh Eggleton will lead on the project
Shona Graham from Emmeline and the Hatch at Spike Island and Dominic Borel from Pasta Loco will be supporting him.
Ingredients will be provided by FareShare South West and restaurant donations, from restaurants still serving food as a delivery service. The public and local food producers are also being encouraged to donate food.
“This is a really difficult time for everyone, and we are so proud that Bristol has risen to the challenge of making sure homeless people and rough sleepers have a safe and secure place to stay during the crisis,” says Paul Smith, cabinet member for housing.
“The Cheers Drive initiative will be an additional lifeline, providing people with healthy, hot food and a wide security net across Bristol’s sectors.”
Over the winter, the number of rough sleepers in Bristol has reached its highest level in a decade, despite there being a drop nationwide.
In autumn 2019, 98 people were estimated to be sleeping on the streets of Bristol. This was up from 82 in 2018 and was the highest number recorded since the count began in 2010, when just eight people were found to be homeless.
The kitchens across Bristol will create meals for 600 a day
“We are really proud to be the official food providers to all those that Bristol City Council has promised to house during this crisis,” says Ben Richardson, director of Caring in Bristol. “Traditional food projects for those experiencing homelessness rely on large public gatherings, soup-kitchen style handouts and unfortunately, they are no longer safe.
“It’s important that agile charities like ours can rise to challenges and meet the most immediate needs of those that are vulnerable during times of change, we will be there for everyone.”
For more information or to support Cheers Drive, visit www.caringinbristol.co.uk/project/cheers-drive
All photos courtesy of Caring in Bristol
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