'We're bringing back the lunch break' say community food project
Exmouth's The Mushroom Project is holding a weekly community lunch for homeworkers or those in offices who have no lunch break space
A new Devon food network is staging a weekly lunch aimed at homeworkers - to help reduce loneliness and isolation.
The idea is workers bring their own lunch - and spend time with others - with those in offices, shops and factories also invited to join the community lunch break.
Craig Jolly is a volunteer with the Mushroom Food Project and says people often eat better together - and are happier.
He said: "There is potentially a large number of people, now working at home, who get up in the morning by themselves, could spend the day by themselves - grab a lunch at their computer - and maybe don't even see somebody at the end of the day.
"There's even people who work in shops and offices who now don't have staff rooms or used to have canteens maybe years ago now - so they probably eat at their desk or just go wandering."
Mr Jolly says a volunteer will be at Exmouth's Sideshore community hub each Wednesday from 12-2pm in term time for people to access the seafront space for as long a time – or short - as they have.
"The message is to bring your own lunch because that's a cost-saving thing for people." he said.
"You can grab your own lunch on the way, so maybe from a local retailer - it would be lovely if people from say an office all walked down together.
"In my working life I started in jobs which had canteens and that was part of your working environment - you met each other, you socialised through that - and then lunch breaks slowly disappeared.
"You talk to a lot of people, and they do not have any defined lunch break now."
The Mushroom Food Network also does things like community baking sessions, to teach skills and ensure people don't miss out on food experiences.
"There are people who miss out on opportunities. If you have a lack of money for food you probably won't invite your friends to come round and have cake and tea - you won't be having a supper evening, won't be going out for a meal."
Ahead of the recent Exmouth Festival, the network held a pizza-making session as part of its regular cooking events and Mr Jolly said: "People came along - especially families who may not be able to afford the festival food prices. We made pizzas and they boxed them up and they took them to the festival and ate that as a family - rather than what would have been quite expensive for some people."
Other activities include Saturday 'loaf making' sessions and food-related discussions over a bowl of soup. The network also works to reduce food waste and supports local charitable food providers.
It can be contacted via [email protected] or here