A TEAM of volunteers have launched a community project to ensure everyone has access to a nutritious hot meal six days a week.

The Community Chef Project is based in St Herbert’s Church in Carlisle with a very simple aim – to feed the homeless and feed the community.

It is open six days a week for breakfast and evening meals with a menu that promises a full stomach.

Michael Cullen, the chef behind the project, said: “We’re doing breakfast six days a week, Tuesday to Sunday, and evening meals six days a week with a Sunday dinner.

“The people who can afford it but haven’t got cooking facilities pay £10 a week.

“The homeless who come up get a free meal.”

Both Michael and the Rev Alun Jones, who is also working on the project, are eager to help people across Carlisle who may be struggling to feed themselves.

They have worked independently for years providing meals or food but it wasn’t until last week that this became a joint effort.

Alun said: “Two people who have been doing things independently for the homeless, Michael and I, have come together by whatever grace and if we can’t between us feed homeless people and our communities, we will have failed.

“When Michael came and I realised he was doing such a great job for the homeless, I immediately opened up the hall for him.

“What Michael is doing, feeding the homeless, feeding people in the communities, is so essential not just during Covid but afterwards as we emerge hopefully from Covid to help communities come together.”

The impacts of deprivation on communities is something that they are both familiar with.

Alun has been working with homeless people in the community for ten years and Michael has served thousands of meals to people in need up and down the country.

“The homeless situation in Carlisle is growing and has been growing nationally for many years,” said Alun.

“In this parish, Currock, which is the second highest crime area in Carlisle next to Castle ward, the levels of poverty and destitution are in the bottom ten per cent nationally.

“It’s a high crime area, lots of anti-social youth disorder, but since March I have noticed a lot of families that I go to visit haven’t got anything at all in their fridge.”

They are following Covid-19 guidelines – hand sanitiser is placed by the front doors, the volunteers cooking are wearing masks, and there is social distancing.

They are also looking for donations of food from members of the public and companies too.

“We would love the support of lots of groups who could perhaps provide food,” said Alun.

Michael added: “We won’t refuse anything.”