Hackney Chronicle: The Food Chain, the UK’s only HIV specialist nutrition charity, has received a £5,000 grant to support its Eating Together service.
For people living with HIV across some of London’s most deprived communities, a shared meal is offering more than food, providing connection, dignity and hope. The Food Chain, the UK’s only HIV specialist nutrition charity, has received a £5,000 grant from London Freemasons. to support its Eating Together service, which offers twice-weekly communal meals in Stepney. Founded by volunteers in 1988, the charity supports some of the most marginalised people living with HIV in London by providing nutrition assessments, grocery deliveries, home delivered meals, and a hardship fund for essential cookery items. Most service users are referred by the NHS and can attend up to three months of communal lunches, totalling 24 meals. The sessions aim to reduce social isolation, build confidence, and offer a supportive, stigma-free environment. Read more Frothy Coffee brings ‘home away from home’ to Beckenham with family-first café 'Developer must stop plan to build 2,200 homes on precious Bromley green belt' Anna Brewster, CEO of The Food Chain, said: "As a small charity with no statutory funding, grants such as these make a huge difference to our ability to deliver our vital services to those who need them most. On behalf of staff, trustees, volunteers and service users at The Food Chain, I’d like to extend my sincere thanks for this generous donation." Many attendees go on to volunteer with the charity, bringing valuable lived experience to the service. Each meal is paired with a health-focused talk from a visiting speaker, and users are encouraged to take leftovers home. William Clayton of London Freemasons said: "We are proud to be able to support The Food Chain and their Eating Together service, understanding that it is bringing together those most vulnerable members of our community." The Food Chain is supported by a Medical Advisory Board and a dedicated team of more than 150 volunteers.