Free meals in Hyde as cost of living increases

A Hyde church is providing a free weekly drop-in initiative aimed at anyone needing a hot meal.

St Thomas’ the Apostle opens on Wednesdays between 12.30-3pm, offering soup and a bread roll accompanied by a hot drink and biscuit.

As the cost of living crisis continues to rise and colder weather approaches, ‘warm hubs’ are becoming increasingly popular throughout many areas across the nation.

One of these being the Anglo-Catholic church, located on Lumn Road, which serves as a safe, friendly environment for the Hyde community.

Peter Ball-Foster, the church warden, emphasised that they don’t ‘push the religious side’.

“The drop-in cafe is open to literally anybody who is passing,” he said.

“Any religion, any class or creed - they’re just here to talk amongst themselves and access a hot meal.”

He continued that the idea is not for it to be weekly compulsory attendance, but to enable residents the opportunity of dropping in whenever they feel they most need it.

“Some people come maybe two or three times and then we never see them again, and then we have our regulars who come every week. There’s no expectation and we don’t judge at all - we’re just happy to provide this support for people,” he added.

Soup is provided courtesy of Morrisons Supermarket Community Champion, with no cost to residents except from the occasional donation if this is something they wish to give.

Peter added: “I used to buy [the soup] myself, but once I’d spoken to Laura, the community champion, she kindly offered to supply it.

“We’re very grateful for them doing this as it helps with the cost side of things - unfortunately with electricity prices as they are and us being electrically heated, we have to be very conservative with our spendings.”

The café started up two and a half years ago, just before lockdown.

Peter said that the parish felt it would be of benefit to the wider community, due to some areas of Hyde being ‘in a high poverty level’.

He added: “There are still a lot out there who are struggling financially and could do with a hot meal, so we just help as many of them as we can and try to reach out to the widest possible demographic.

“We were doing well before lockdown but after the pandemic, we’ve struggled a bit more to get people in - they seem hesitant, but I’m not sure why. We’ve put flyers through doors, and we just want to get the word out about what we do, so we can help as many people as possible.”

For more information call Peter on 07984 425 574.