22/12/2025
Dear reader,
Please find attached a plea for assistance in the guise of a press release.
I trust it finds you well
You have my best wishes,
Nathalie
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Nathalie Delahaye
Director
Roar Pursuits CIC
07737 497 936
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Award-winning community food service and care leaver CIC at risk in West Thamesmead as venue access is withdrawn – leaving the community without access to valuable food and household supplies - 3 days before Christmas.
Roar Pursuits CIC is urgently seeking support to secure a new venue in the West Thamesmead and Royal Arsenal area of Greenwich after being unable to continue operating its free food shop and community café during the festive period. This is due to the sudden and unexpected withdrawal of the Peabody venue, just 3 days before planned Christmas events. In a move that has left the CIC and the community in total dismay. Despite funding from Peabody to deliver over 2 years, Roar continued to provide the service for 3 years with a huge retailer donation weekly; of an estimated value of £2million.
For the past three years, Roar Pursuits CIC has provided a weekly, open-access food service supporting working families, care leavers, children, older residents and vulnerable individuals who often fall outside eligibility for traditional food banks. The service, supplied through extremely generous donations from a major national retailer, has supported around 60 individuals and 300 families each week, saving households an estimated £200 per week during the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. This is in addition to the core stance of the CIC being care leaver specific and strongly involved in homelessness, domestic abuse, monetary support and housing.
Most recently receiving a 5 year unrestricted fund by the Co-operative Foundation. Other donors include The National Lottery, The Mayor of London, the Martin Lewis Foundation, the London Community Fund as well as many others. They are humble recipients of the Spirit of Manchester award, Royal borough of Greenwich award for Economic prosperity, International woman of the year as well as academic awards for mental health improvement and training. All in recognition to their commitment to care leavers nationally.
In addition to life skills training the opening of the free food shop - it being the UK’s first open to all without vouchers or discrimination are all life changing to many. Roar Pursuits CIC has operated a free community café for the past two years, offering hot meals, a safe social space and a vital connection for local residents. There is nothing in the area offering this service. The organisation was recognised for this work with the 2024 Royal Borough of Greenwich Health and Wellbeing Award.
Due to the loss of venue access, Roar Pursuits CIC has been forced to suspend the service with immediate effect. This puts significant quantities of donated food to waste, as it will go directly to landfill. In addition, it leaves hundreds of local residents without support during the imminent festive period. The timing of this move has left both organisers and the community distraught, with many more wondering how they are going to survive the festive period without this much needed support and lifeline.
“This service exists for people who are working, often single parents, who simply cannot access food banks because they do not receive benefits. We purposefully remove barriers and stigma. Losing this service at this time of year is devastating for families who rely on it.” said Nathalie Delahaye, Founder of Roar Pursuits CIC.
The local ward Councillor has expressed concern about the impact on residents and has called for urgent discussions to explore a way forward.
“I am deeply concerned about the immediate impact this decision will have on local families who rely on this vital support, especially during the festive season. As the ward councillor, I would like to propose an urgent conversation between Peabody and Roar Team to explore a constructive way forward. This service has been instrumental in addressing food insecurity for working families who often fall outside traditional support systems. Abruptly ending it without dialogue risks significant hardship in our community.”
Despite this, requests to return keys and empty the food store occurred a day later.
Roar Pursuits CIC is now calling on local partners, landlords, community organisations, and supporters who may be able to offer temporary or permanent space so the service can continue. The retailer wishes to continue to donate.
There are currently limited food support services in West Thamesmead, and Roar Pursuits CIC believes collaboration is essential to prevent unnecessary hardship and substantial food waste.
“It’s a shameful world we live in now” – David L Jackson – award winning author and filmmaker.
"I am excited and keenly watch this program. The content is utterly appropriate; with a stepped approach, aimed at fully engaging care leavers, with wrap around support and accreditation at its conclusion. To date I am not aware of any other life skills training of this nature and would support its application and I would also like to encourage local authorities and partners to do so also." Mark Riddell MBE, National Implementation Adviser for Care Leavers. Department for Education.
“I’m so sorry to hear the venue pulled out, and like this. That’s devastating.. the amazing work you are doing, relationships built up, people who rely on you. I wish I knew more people that support the way you do. You need a place to continue, what you are doing is needed and full of love.” – Viv Slack – Founder of the Street Support Network.
“We wanted to thank you for all your hard work and support during 2025. Our highlights included seeing you online at the learning sessions, our in person learning event in Manchester, in May and the publication of IVAR’s report on the impact of Unrestricted Funding in October. None of this work could have been done without your commitment and willingness to share your learning with us – thank you!” Wendy Reading – The Co-operative Foundation.
“To withdraw the venue, such a vital service running up to Christmas is truly awful. It’s clearly an important service that people rely on. Christmas is a challenging time of the year financially and the removal of this service will have a severe and detrimental impact on this period and beyond. I would imagine that without being able to receive donations, it would be difficult to continue this valuable service. It is a massive loss to some of the most vulnerable and in need people within the community.” Antony Corrigan.
“The whole situation is sickening, there’s some people in the world who just don’t care. I have known Nathalie for 10 years and she has done more for our care leaver community and the community at large, then any singular politician or councillor could have. To be left in this situation with no support, truly shows the state of our country today. People slipping through the gaps, and genuine charities who care about making a difference being forced to shut down with no prior warning and no help to relocate. This is a message for the people in power who can make a difference. If you’re not even willing to name yourself to support such a needed service, don’t stand in front of us pretending you care, just for the publicity. US the care leavers, will figure it out on own again. Like we always have. We are just lucky to have a charity and someone who cares as much as Roar and Nathalie do. There are people like Nathalie and your constant volunteers who pour your heart and soul into caring. We’re living in a world where it pays to look like you’re part of a campaign, part of supporting. But if you’re not willing to stand with us and stand with what is morally right, don’t pretend to care in the first place.” – Natasha Hibbert, award winning filmmaker
“3 very happy secondary schools, very grateful for receiving these care packages for vulnerable children and young people, as well as parents. It doesn’t just help some people, it’s helping everyone including schools” – volunteer.
“No care for the service that the community will now lose”. – volunteer
“They do it just before Christmas right when people need it most, what the heck” – volunteer
“That’s terrible, what a shame, why on earth would they do that when you have all the accreditation and documentation and insurance, it makes no sense to do that and not meet” – volunteer
“That’s so bad at this time of year when people need help – it’s so bad” – volunteer
“They can’t be asking vulnerable people for their details it’s against GDPR, and unsafe for those in domestic violence situations. It puts them at unnecessary risk” – volunteer
“Sorry to hear they wouldn’t meet earlier, this is as they say karma, leaving people who are homeless and vulnerable hungry” – volunteer
ENDS
Media contact:
Name: Nathalie Delahaye
Role: Founder and Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 07737 497936
