The outlook is looking brighter for one of Swindon’s most valued charities, Big Breakfast Plus, after receiving £150,000 in National Lottery funding.
Spread over three years, the grant is a major lifeline for the Regent Street-based organisation, which provides hot breakfasts every day to people who are homeless or struggling to afford food. Run largely by volunteers, with only a small number of staff and a committed board of trustees, the charity dishes up around 100 breakfasts daily at the Pilgrim Centre, offering a safe, welcoming space for those who need it most.
Chair of trustees, James Puttick, described the award as “fantastic” and said it would allow the charity to continue serving freshly cooked meals while strengthening its longer-term plans.
“In recent times, we’ve seen demand grow due to rising food and energy costs. This funding not only helps us cover day-to-day essentials like food and equipment, but also means we can build on our wider projects, such as handing out fruit bags and developing nutritional support,” he said.
The National Lottery Community Fund recently set out its new vision, It starts with community, pledging to distribute at least £4 billion by 2030. Its priorities include helping people live healthier lives, supporting young people, backing environmental initiatives and bringing communities closer together.
Thanks to lottery players, more than £30 million a week is raised for good causes across the UK. In 2023/24 alone, over £686 million was distributed to more than 13,700 projects nationwide.
For Big Breakfast Plus, the award means reassurance for the future – and more mornings where the most vulnerable in Swindon can start the day with a meal, a smile and a sense of belonging.
Find out more about the charity at bigbreakfastplus.org.uk.
