Swindon volunteers say Big Breakfast Plus demand is rising

Based at the Pilgrim Centre on Regents Street, the organisation has one simple mission – to give food to the homeless or hungry and company to the lonely.

Volunteers work at lightning pace from 7.30am to 9am every day and serve up around 770 eggs, 770 rashers of bacon, 840 sausages and 50 litres of milk a week - all before clocking in for their day jobs.

Many of the volunteers are previous customers themselves, including 23-year-old Gabriel who is learning how to cook and gain cleaning skills while awaiting refugee status.

We spoke to just a few of those involved to find out how Big Breakfast Plus has changed their lives.

Wayne credit Big Breakfast Plus for helping to give him a purpose. (Image: Big Breakfast Plus)

For Services Coordinator Wayne Twitchell, volunteering at Big Breakfast Plus is a family affair - but it didn't start that way.

Wayne left school aged 16 with no qualifications, turned to drink and drugs, and at one point even found himself on remand for assault.

But the 40-year-old now runs the organisation as a tight ship and is even studying for a Level 3 Business Diploma.

He works alongside his partner Becky who cooks, and her son Dylan, who is a volunteer.

“I needed to be busy, so I googled for volunteering opportunities in Swindon. The first thing that popped up was Big Breakfast Plus, and as it was food-related, which I loved being involved with so I joined," he said.

"It has given me purpose and meaning, and great values to lead my personal life.”

Mark Lever (left) and Ljiljana Pepperall (right) both discovered the charity that has changed their life through Facebook (Image: Volunteers)

Mark Lever stumbled across the breakfast organisation by chance when scrolling through Facebook while in a hospital waiting room, and he decided to message the group to offer his help.

"By the time I left the hospital, I had been allocated my first shift," he told the Adver.

"It's great - everyone just mucks in and helps out."

But according to Mike, the number of users of the cafe has tripled in the last two years, meaning they are more reliant on volunteers and donations than ever.

"But it's a hidden scandal that numbers coming in have skyrocketed and the charity gets no funding," he added.

"But it's so rewarding to get to have a laugh and a joke with customers because a lot tend to get ignored on the street."

48-year-old Ljiljana (Lily) who also discovered the charity through Facebook added: "My life is more fulfilled now as I really appreciate everything that I have.

"It is a sense of belonging and serving my community. I feel it’s all of our duties to help each other in the difficult, changing world we are living right now."

Izzy and Jim (Image: Big Breakfast Plus)

Izzy and Jim are living proof that there's no such thing as 'too old or too young' when it comes to volunteering.

20-year-old Izzy attends New College and says she's always wanted to give something back to the Swindon community.

“We have a homeless friend, who is a bit older than me who I have known for a few years now," she said.

"I don’t like seeing anyone going hungry. I wanted to do something to help, and it is better to give food than money.”

82-year-old Jim is one of the longest-serving volunteers and when he started the charity only helped the homeless, but now it will serve anyone in need of food or company.

“We do so many more breakfasts now, I think they served 102 today," he said.