BARROW'S Community Kitchen was originally set up to help feed those hit by savage benefit cuts but is now helping the lonely, elderly and working families struggling to survive on zero-hours contract.

Barrow's first "soup kitchen" was the brainchild of two local people who wanted to help those who were affected by benefit cuts and unable to eat.

Six months on, it has become a vital part of the community and can cater for up to 60 people a week.

Morrisons and Tesco have helped to keep the kitchen going by donating food.

Walking into the community centre, the smell of food hits you first, followed by the laughter and chat of those in the main hall.

Young families sit around chatting to elderly people; those isolated during the week catch up with their new friends as they tuck into a three-course lunch followed by tea and coffee.

The volunteers make sure every single person is catered for and know all those who come by name, creating a warm and happy atmosphere.

Sharon Foden and John Wright first thought about setting up towards the end of last year, after hearing about diabetic David Clapson, 59, who died with just £3.44 left in his account after his Jobseeker’s Allowance was axed because he missed an appointment

Stripped of his income, the former soldier could not afford food or electricity and he died starving, penniless and alone at his home.

His death was from diabetic ketoacidosis – caused by not taking his insulin.

With such sanctions on the increase, they decided something needed to be done to help Furness folk.

Within weeks they had set up the community kitchen, which meets every Sunday between 3pm and 5pm at St Matthew's Community Halls in Highfield Road, Barrow.

The kitchen provides free hot meals for people who may be suffering benefit sanctions or financial hardship or who simply feel isolated and alone. It prides itself on being totally inclusive and offering friendship to all.

Looking back at the last six months, Miss Foden, a mother of three, said: "I spoke to John and we decided that something needed to be done in this area to help people who had had benefit sanctions and were suffering financially. There was only a few turned up to start with but that has now risen to about 40 to 50 people on a regular basis.

"We have people who have had their benefits stopped but also those who live in isolation. For some, coming here is the only time they will have been out that week or spoken to anyone. They spend all weekend looking forward to this one afternoon.

"Those attending are so mixed. There's young families, couples, male and females of all ages and elderly people.

"This is a chance to get a hot meal for people struggling financially and enjoy tea, coffee with sweets and pop for the children."

The 45-year-old said that people were very thankful and they had noticed an increase low income families who had paid all their bills and mortgage but by the end of the month couldn't afford to eat.

Miss Foden added: "Morrisons have helped us since the beginning by giving us their waste food and excess stock. Tesco have also now come on board and are giving us food donations. I want to thank them both for their help."

John Wright said the kitchen had really expanded from their initial aim and they were seeing a lot more working families attending.

He added: "The amount attending can fluctuate from between 35 and 60.

"The amount often goes up because working people and families have paid their mortgages and bills and by the end of the week are skint and can't afford to eat. A lot are on zero-hours contracts. We are all inclusive.

"We also have people who have mental health issues. One man who comes feels isolated, as he feels all people with such issues are kept in one spot. Here it is all inclusive. It doesn't matter if you have mental health issues or are an addict.

"This wasn't the way we initially anticipated the service going but there is a definite need for help out there.

"One thing that sticks in my mind is that we went to deliver a food parcel to a mum whose benefits had been sanctioned. Her son answered the door and shouted back to his mum 'it's tea.' It saddens me that in this day and age things like that are happening but they are, right across our community."

You can head along any Sunday to the community kitchen or if you want more information head to their Facebook page. Search for "Barrow community kitchen".

‘Overwhelming’ response for Barrow soup kitchen dream read more

Volunteers ready to dish up hot food in Barrow to those in need more here

Benefit sanctions and what to do about them click here for more information