#trjfp

[humansofleeds]

“I’ve been a vicar here for over three years. I moved from London, and South Africa before that. When I was in London I saw an advert for a small inner-city church. A church which cared about asylum seekers, refugees and the LGBT+ community. And I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of.

When I came here it was very clear to me what I wanted - having a local focus, and having as much an impact outside the building as possible. We have a presence at Pride, with more faiths and people represented each year. At Christmas we have a huge banquet where we share food with anyone who wants to join us. And finally the PAYF cafe is a wonderful privilege for us.

There’s so much to love about being in this location. We have a mosque and a Hindu temple, and the university all close by. It’s just the most energetic and amazing neighbourhood. As a gig for a parish priest it’s pretty awesome!”

[humansofleeds]

“I was in the army from a few years. After I got back I faced a number of struggles. It left me divorced and homeless for about seven years. My head wasn’t in the right place. It was only thirteen years ago that things started to fall back into place for me. I found faith; I’m a born-again Christian. I realised then that the way to get through my own struggles was to reach out to others. That in itself was therapy for me. And I found my way back to normality.

There was a lady from my church who first introduced me to Rainbow Junk-tion. I’ve been coming here for over three years now. I do a lot of the handyman jobs. It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. For me, it’s a great community place. And it’s made me appreciate a lot of things in my own life.”

[humansofleeds]

“A couple of years ago I went to a talk at the university. The guest speaker was Adam Smith, the founder of The Real Junk Food Project. It just blew my mind how frank he was about food waste. And how logical a solution it could be. 30% of food is wasted, while 1 in 9 people are suffering from starvation.

My final year at university was a crazy time. I had my dissertation to complete and I was going through a break-up. I was looking for something to latch on to. And the Rainbow Junk-tion was exactly that. I’d always been interested in food so it was appealing to get involved, and have a connection with it. The atmosphere was great. I started in the kitchen; I was given ingredients and the freedom to make whatever I wanted. That’s what I loved. Exploring my own capacity to manage and create. Making food, and having people enjoy it. It was such a satisfying experience. I had big ideas when I first started; I wanted to change everything. But I soon realised that change doesn’t come easy. I had to really work at it. It’s opened my horizons. The whole experience has been quite humbling.”

[matdale]

All Hallows' Church, Leeds 2017 #therealjunkfoodproject #leeds #hydepark #allhallows #trjfp #trjfpleeds #payasyoufeel #payf #feedbelliesnotbins #documentaryphotography #photojournalism #portrait #portraitphotography #everydayuk #documentingbritain #rainbowjunktion #syriankitchen #allhallowschurchleeds

[matdale]

All Hallows Church in Leeds has been running a Real Junk Food Café as part of their community outreach. The idea behind it is simple: food that would otherwise go to waste is instead used to cook delicious meals for local people who are struggling to make ends meet. The café operates on a Pay-As-You-Feel basis, which makes the food affordable. People can also cover costs by contributing their skills through volunteering in the café and elsewhere, transforming the process of eating from a financial transaction to a vibrant demonstration of community. The church opened up the café to local Syrian refugees, forming what they call the ‘Syrian Kitchen’. Every Thursday, local Syrians from the nearby mosque spend the day at the church, cooking a range of delicious and nutritious meals and sharing Syrian life and culture with others in the café and kitchen. After fleeing their homeland, and being witnesses to unspeakable human tragedy and suffering, many of the refugees are now trying to make a new life in the UK. Being part of the café has opened up doors to the community, creating cohesion and understanding between people of different faiths and backgrounds. #worldrefugeeday #refugees #syria #syrian #syriankitchen #allhallowschurch #leeds #uk #trjfp #therealjunkfoodproject #payf #payasyoufeel

[matdale]

Seamus. Armley Junk-tion Cafe. The Real Junk Food Project. Armley, Leeds Valentines Day 2017 Check out more photos here - https://www.facebook.com/matdalephoto/posts/1598883333746718 #armley #leeds #therealjunkfoodproject #trjfp #payasyoufeel #payf #feedbelliesnotbins #documentaryphotography #photojournalism #documentingbritain #everydayuk @documentingbritain #valentines

[matdale]

Dennis. Armley Junk-tion Cafe. The Real Junk Food Project. Armley, Leeds 2016 Check out more photos here - https://www.facebook.com/matdalephoto/posts/1598883333746718 #armley #leeds #therealjunkfoodproject #trjfp #payasyoufeel #payf #feedbelliesnotbins #documentaryphotography #photojournalism #documentingbritain #everydayuk @documentingbritain

[matdale]

Pat. Moortown Junk-tion cafe. Leeds 2016 Pat, who still wears her fob watch was an auxiliary nurse until she was forced to retire 3 years ago from being diagnosed with MS. #therealjunkfoodproject #trjfp #payasyoufeel #payf #feedbelliesnotbins #portrait #photojournalism #documentingbritain #documentaryphotography #everydayuk #leeds #yorkshire #england #greatbritain #uk #elderly #olderpeople @documentingbritain