Lord Mayor visits the Jesuit parish as new partners join homeless lunch service
Some of London’s most exclusive private members’ clubs – including Annabel’s, George, Harry’s Bar and Mark’s Club – are now contributing to the Homeless Lunch Service hosted at Farm Street Church, the Jesuit parish in central London.
Launched in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the service continues to provide around 140 hot meals each week to people experiencing homelessness. Run from the Church and supported by Westminster City Council, the service already benefits from generous food donations from five-star hotels such as Claridge’s, The Connaught, and the Mandarin Oriental.
The involvement of private clubs adds new momentum to the programme, which seeks not only to meet basic needs, but to do so with dignity and respect. Guests are welcomed as equals and served at a large dining table by volunteers, many of whom are members of the local church community.
To mark this new chapter, the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Cllr Robert Rigby, joined volunteers and parish priest Fr Dominic Robinson SJ today to serve a freshly prepared lunch to around 75 guests. The menu included chicken with fried rice and vegetables, roast potatoes with gravy, and lemon cake with cream.
Reflecting on his visit to Farm Street, the Lord Mayor shared:
“Talking to people having lunch at the Farm Street centre, it’s clear the reasons why people end up sleeping rough or facing homelessness are complex and varied. While some may have substance problems in the past, for others it can just be bad luck or family rifts that mean they fall through the cracks.
“The hospitality trade has been great, and Father Dominic deserves credit for getting the private members’ clubs involved. They are showing a real commitment to the wider community which should be applauded.”
Fr Dominic Robinson SJ added:
“Thanks to our food donors and an amazing band of volunteers we can keep providing food and I hope a sense of dignity to people who have ended up homeless. While our service took off in the pandemic, it is great to see that spirit of community continuing. Thank you to the private members’ clubs for joining our team – your contribution is making a significant difference.”
The Jesuit mission is rooted in walking with the excluded, and Farm Street’s outreach to the homeless is a living example of that commitment, offering not only sustenance, but a sense of belonging in a world that can often feel cold and impersonal.
Photos courtesy of the Diocese of Westminster. © Diocese of Westminster.
