10 years of breakfast at St George's

CHOCOLATE muffins served to four or five people marked the start of Saturday Breakfast at St George's, Wolverton in Buckinghamshire a decade ago. Since then the event has evolved into a three course feast starting with porridge or a pancake, moving to a full English breakfast and finishing with a pastry or croissant, washed down with fairtrade coffee and orange juice.

Breakfast happens every week, and if Christmas Day happens to fall on a Saturday, it will go ahead with pork pie served as a festive treat.

The event is run by church member Stephen Mott and a group of volunteers.

Stephen said: "Breakfast is now part of our commitment to relieving poverty, hunger and isolation in Milton Keynes and is where we distribute food parcels as part of the Milton Keynes Food Bank. "Usually around 40 people attend, with some weeks as many as 60 turning up.

"We never know how many people will come," says Stephen, who works with volunteers preparing the food and clearing up afterwards.

Everyone is welcome with churchgoers and non-churchgoers alike joining in.

The highlight for me is the fact that it is still going and growing.

Even though numbers might drop from one week to the next the overall picture is of steady growth. "Julie Reeves, who has been coming to breakfast for the past year, says: "I like coming because it's a safe place to meet others and socialise, and my kids get to play with other kids.

I leave here refreshed, knowing the kids are fed and there is no need to worry.

I don't socialise much in the week as I am worried about new places, but I feel safe coming here.

Everyone needs a safe place to go to, even if it is just for a chat and a coffee.

I know that every Saturday we have had a meal to start off the day.

I feel energised by meeting other people: I call them my little family. " ;

Serving up breakfast are volunteers Richard, Gillian, David and Fiona.

St George's, Wolverton.