Skip to content

Volunteers offer 'lifeline' by cooking free meals

BBC A woman is holding her two-year-old son to the right of her. They are both looking directly into the camera smiling. They are standing in the kitchen in front of worktops. BBC
Bea Maskery with her two-year-old son. She hopes her community cooking group will inspire others around the UK

Members of a Facebook group are providing a "lifeline" for dozens of people by cooking them free meals.

Cooking for Kindness was set up by Bea Maskery, from Bourne, Lincolnshire, in September and already has more than 1,400 followers.

Volunteers advertise freshly made meals in the group, which can then be collected or delivered to those in need.

Mrs Maskery said: "A lot of people come to us because they don't know where to turn. Food banks aren't great if you physically can't cook the meal."

A woman wearing a blue zip-up jacket is holding a silver tray filled with spaghetti bolognaise. She is looking directly into the camera smiling. She is standing in the garden with a grey fence behind her.
Olivia Bratley is among members of the community who have benefited from the group

The group began as a place for people to share food they did not need, but the majority of volunteers now cook for people who are struggling to afford food or cannot cook for themselves.

Grace Theunissen, from Market Deeping, is among those making a little bit extra to serve members of the community.

She said the volunteers were "everyday people" and it made her "feel so good" to be taking part.

"I think a lot of people would carry on struggling without this help," she added.

A close up of bolognaise cooking in a large silver pan. The pan is filled with minced beef, red peppers, yellow courgette, onions and a red tomato sauce. There is a wooden spoon balanced on the edge of the pan.
The group was set up on 11 September, but already has more than 1,400 members

The volunteers are delivering five to six meals a day and have helped about 50 people since they began.

Olivia Bratley, 49, has been receiving home-cooked meals from members of the group over the past month.

"It's been a lifeline for me and everyone in this community," Ms Bratley said. "It helps us all out."

Cooking for Kindness has already expanded to other areas of Lincolnshire, including Market Deeping, Spalding and Grantham.

And while the volunteers stress people should not come to rely on them, they hope that the idea will expand around the UK.

"I didn't think it would take off like this, it's just been incredible," said Mrs Maskery.

"I've had people crying on my doorstep, they're just so grateful and overwhelmed with the kindness."

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

Related internet links
More on this story