A Stroud charity which specialises in gathering people for food and friendship has been transformed into a super kitchen delivering hundreds of meals a week.

When the gravity of the current coronavirus pandemic hit home Severn View Food joined many other businesses and charities - not shutting up shop, but sitting down for a dramatic re-think of how it could survive.

The impact of the social lock-down immediately closed it lunch clubs in Stroud and the Cotswolds, but its food supply chain remained intact.

Teaming up with The Long Table, a group of activists determined to bring affordable food to everyone and which seems to be connecting people county-wide, charity boss Debbie Young still finds herself serving her community.

But now she is part of a new socially isolated team of cooks and delivery drivers.

"Obviously we were no longer able to work directly with the elderly, which we usually do," said Ms Young.

"But we had already worked closely with a number of other organisations, which are really part of a great network of charities and groups, and we knew we had to keep going in some way.

Massive amount of food surplus today from @waitrose as the supply chain starts to catch up. Donated it all to Long Table to help make the 186 meals made today pic.twitter.com/8ZX1RRXh3D

— Severn View Food (@Usefoodwell) March 30, 2020

"We know food banks can only do so much. We connected with The Long Table, which has been active providing food for people in Gloucestershire for some time, and we are now providing something like 2,000 meals a week already.

"Health and safety officers at Stroud District Council were really helpful, making sure we knew exactly what we had to do to comply with the standards - they have been brilliant.

"And Waitrose in Stroud, which supplies us with food normally, has kept us well stocked. It has been amazing. Its supply chains are recovering and it has made sure it has not forgotten us and the people we try to look after.

"We are trying to self-isolate as a group, which allows us to work as a team as safely as we can.

"We are catering for people who are not working, self-isolating, people who have underlying medical conditions, the elderly and others.

"About 50 per cent is going out free of charge, and the rest is paid for in some way - which helps us keep the service running."

Currently £25 will get you seven meals.

To find out more visit Severn View Food's Facebook page  or follow it on Twitter (@Usefoodwell ).

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