Growing Links CIC welcomed their local Cornwall councillor back to the Street Food Project to mark Challenge Poverty Week. 

Cllr Andrew George, Cornwall councillor for Ludgvan, Madron, Gulval & Heamoor, met with Lynne Dyer, managing director of Growing Links, the community interest company that set up the project to help combat the effects of poverty.  

Lynne Dyer said: “The people the Street Food Project serve often face multiple issues that affect their quality of life. We are a lifeline for those facing economic hardship and living with homelessness. As well as a hot meal The Street Food Project provides sleeping bags, tents, blankets, and signposting to other helpful services.  

“The Food is donated, and meals are prepared by our community of volunteers. Businesses in Penzance such as Loafs and Baked drop off leftover food at the end of the day and surplus food is donated from local supermarkets and gleaned from farms.  

“We are thrilled that the Sail Loft Restaurant on St Michael’s Mount has recently started cooking a meal for us each week, being dropped off by boat by head chef Greg Milne. The Lugger Inn in Penzance and The Red Lion in Newlyn have cooked for us weekly for years, the generosity in our community is amazing.”  

Challenge Poverty Week, England and Wales runs every October. Its aims are to help change the conversation around poverty, end the stigma and show what is being done at a community level to challenge and alleviate poverty.  

Cllr George, a well-respected figure in the realm of social justice, volunteered previously for SFP for three years, and was comfortable chatting to the guests and serving food, including a homemade apple crumble he brought along.  

Cllr George said, “The Street Food Project and Growing Links, do such important work on behalf of us all. Sadly the government’s “safety net” doesn’t work for many of the most vulnerable in our society. Particularly those with illness — especially mental illness — chronic addiction and the many individuals and families who’ve been evicted from a now extremely insecure and exorbitant private rented sector. For them the “safety net” is either non-existent, threadbare or just judgemental and cruel.  

“It’s good news that Growing Links has secured a new contract with Cornwall Council officers to provide hot meals for individuals and families living in temporary accommodation in the Hayle, Helston, Penzance area.  

“Takeaways are the only option for families living with no kitchen. This is neither sustainable nor healthy. The Street Food Project provides a nutritious meal every evening. Combating poverty requires a collaborative effort.   

“The ultimate “safety net” currently depends on the kindness and voluntary effort of too few people. We should of course be working towards a future world where the wonderful Growing Links and Street Food Project and their fantastic volunteers and supporters can be retired because they’re not needed. In the meantime, they must keep up the great work!” 

As well as The Street Food project, Growing Links provide a food store service, delivering vegetables and store cupboard essentials to those experiencing poverty. The Community Garden provides seasonal agro-ecological vegetables for the kitchen, and the proceeds from the weekly veg bags go back into the projects.  

Growing Links is a Living Wage employer, ensuring that all their dedicated staff receive a fair and equitable wage for their hard work. Being a Living Wage employer is an integral part of their mission to combat poverty, as it not only sets an example for other businesses but also directly contributes to improving the economic well-being of their team.