Download Feed My City’s Chickpea + lentil curry (preparing rice separately) recipe

Featured image: Feed My City

Perched on the outskirts of New Islington is Feed My City. Tucked between a chippy and an off-license, their modest unit is one you’d probably miss if you weren’t looking for it, but this small charity is making waves in the local community, the ripples of which are felt across all of Greater Manchester.

Long before Feed My City set up shop in Manchester, the charity’s founder, Sukhibr Singh, was born into poverty in India where his survival depended upon his community. Recalling a childhood without electricity, running water, or a guaranteed meal, Singh says: “Next door neighbours would come knock on our door when we didn’t have any food and vice versa. They knew when we needed food and we knew when they did so we would help each other.” That same spirit of community support is at the heart of what the charity does today – making sure nobody in Manchester goes hungry, no questions asked.

What began as a small-scale food support effort has grown into a lifeline for thousands of people across Manchester, running entirely on donations and people power. Despite a huge client base with referrals coming from places like Citizens Advice and The Trussell Trust, Feed My City is led by just four members of staff, backed by two chefs who cook up to 400 hot meals every day, and a 150-strong team of volunteers. Between “cooking, cleaning, call-handling, food bag packing, stock buying, delivery driving and admin,” their army of volunteers make it possible for the charity to operate seven days a week, from 9am to 9pm – making them one of the few services in the area with that kind of accessibility.

In the face of the cost of living crisis, Feed My City has seen a sharp uptick in people needing support; but unlike traditional food banks, Singh has a no-strings-attached approach to providing help. “Most food banks require registration or proof that you’re in receipt of benefits,” says Singh, “but it’s a frightening and painful exercise for people to prove that they need it. I know how hard it is to ask somebody for food because I’ve been in that position. We have the food, and we want to give it to people without hassle.”

Tackling food insecurity might be Feed My City’s primary goal, but their impact stretches far further than getting food in bellies. “This place helps people in so many indirect ways,” Singh explains, “when people phone up, they tell you a story. Just being able to offload helps with their mental health.” Singh and his team operate on a judgement-free, no-questions-asked policy, meaning they need no justification from clients before organising a food delivery but “listening to people and making them feel welcome changes lives”.

Despite its huge impact, official support is still lacking and the charity relies heavily upon donations from the community: “Most of our funding comes from people who’ve been to the base and see what we do.” While financial contributions are important, Singh emphasises the power of community – the student community in particular. “Students are a very powerful network,” says Singh. “I think they need to think about the charity sector as an opportunity.”

Feed My City has had a number of students come to them over the years, some to conduct research for their dissertations and others to volunteer their time. All, Singh says, leave feeling empowered that they’ve had a positive impact on their local community.

Getting involved in local initiatives like Feed My City, or even starting your own, can have a significant impact, and Singh has one piece of advice: “Before you start, just talk to people. Look around you. Look for signs that people are struggling, understand that your neighbours and friends can be in trouble and that you can help them. It’s as simple as that.”

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