FOR 82-year-old Shirley Atkins, Wednesday lunch is one of the highlights of her week. The former Beefeater Gin factory worker heads to a community centre in Clapham Park where she finds a warm welcome, a free nutritious lunch and friends to talk to.
The community canteen, run by the charity Be Enriched, is proving a lifeline for people struggling this winter with the cost-of-living crisis and those who feel hungry, lonely or cannot afford to heat their homes. "At home we turn the heating on for a couple of hours then turn it off to save money," said Shirley.
"I like coming here - I get food, a chat and it helps with the cost of living." Sharing her table was Bernadette, who added: "I am an old woman and don't want to sit at home all day on my own.
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