Southampton based charity; Southampton Sunday Lunch Project is one of only four winners in Hampshire of this year’s prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
This prestigious National Honour recognises outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others. It sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, with the work of those awarded being judged of the highest standard.
Started in 1990 to feed the growing numbers of homeless in Southampton, the SSLP now has more than 100 volunteers and provides a free Sunday lunch to those in need from their two centres in Woolston and St Deny’s.
Founder member Carol Cunio explains; “The Southampton Sunday Lunch Project was created to help people when they are having a tough time in their life. Our customers are people who cannot or do not have the facilities to cook a hot meal for themselves or their families or are in other ways in need of lunch. Thanks to our generous supporters, we are able to carry on supporting our community to maintain our good work. We currently serve around 120 meals each week across our two centres. That figure has been increasing steadily over the past year, as has the demand for take--away packs to help feed families. Winning the King’s Award for Voluntary Service is a fantastic honour for our volunteers and supporters and recognises their selfless service to help those less fortunate have a hot Sunday lunch”.
