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Camden New Journal - FORUM: Opinion in the CNJ
Published: 22 November 2007

Anjana Ghosh by the Food For All van in Arlington Road

It was right to reverse plans to ban the soup-run social lifeline

Anjana Ghosh of Food For All explains the importance of reaching out to marginalised people through soup-run and education schemes

THE recent decision taken by the London Councils to drop plans to ban soup-runs from distributing free meals to the disadvantaged restored my faith in the system and has confirmed that we do still live in a compassionate society. Banning organisations from distributing free meals goes against the basic human instinct to reach out and help those in need.
It is now seven years since I first started helping out as a volunteer with the charity Food For All once a week and whenever extra help was needed.
Food For All is based on the principle of community self-help and distributes approximately 600 free vegetarian meals to the disadvantaged in Kentish Town, Camden and King’s Cross six days a week.
The service users are from all walks of life and include the homeless, the disadvantaged, the elderly and people suffering from physical and mental illness and single parents on low incomes.
The meals are freshly prepared in the Hare Krishna temple near Watford every morning by volunteers, and many of the ingredients are donated from supermarkets and local businesses through recycling initiatives.
Helping out on Food For All has changed the way I see homeless people. Previously, I would sometimes buy The Big Issue and give a donation to a homeless person but I would always feel apprehensive about approaching them and would even walk by quickly.
Now, whenever I see a person on the streets, I stop and give them a leaflet about the project and have a chat.
Over the course of seven years I have personally seen how the free meals are a lifeline to our service users, who say that they would not be able to survive without the meals and the emotional support from other service users, many of whom have formed strong friendships.
Banning or reducing these services would have made life much worse for people who are already marginalised and living on the edge. A few years ago, Food For All carried out an independent survey of the service users. A large majority said that they would be forced to steal from supermarkets if they did not have access to the free meals. Furthermore, not everyone who uses the service feels comfortable having meals in a hostel environment, and banning soup runs could also create increased isolation for people who are not able to interact in an institutional environment. Allowing soup runs to operate alongside hostels gives service users the freedom to choose which service they wish to access.
Over the past seven years, I have seen the charity respond to the changing needs of the people it serves. It no longer just provides food. Food For All has opened a homeless resource centre in Caledonian Road called Matchless Gifts, which provides the disadvantaged with access to free IT training, art and music workshops, cookery classes and yoga in a supportive environment.
Many of the former homeless people who used to have meals from the van have now become volunteers in the project. Food For All has secured funding to help its service users break free of the cycle of homelessness and dependency by giving them the confidence to learn new skills and start new ventures. The creation of a prize winning environmental garden using eco-friendly techniques and solar powered rickshaws is just one example of these community self-help projects.
I am so enthused by Food For All that I have taken my family and friends on the soup runs with me and many of my friends and colleagues have been inspired to get involved. I have met such extraordinary people through the project who have truly enriched my life.
One amazing story which has really touched my heart is about one homeless person who gave me a £10 note. He had found it in the park and wanted to give it to the charity as a way of giving something back for helping him over the years. His selflessness and generosity truly moved me.
The government should continue to encourage and support voluntary organisations to work in a progressive manner with those in need.
Both myself and all the people who support these charities and use their services are delighted that the right decision has been made.

* Anjana Ghosh is a solicitor and volunteer with Food For All

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