Worksop woman on a mission to feed the town’s homeless

One night a week Bronya Farrow-Ellis and her wife Katie take sandwiches, home-made soup, crisps and chocolate to hungry rough-sleepers.

Bronya, a quality auditor for Greencore, told how she took on the mercy mission after seeing two homeless pensioners wave at her from a doorway on Sheffield’s West Street.

After driving home to cook them both a meal she returned to Sheffield but was unable to find the pair after her car broke down.

She said: “I just thought all the things going on in my life were so minimal compared to what they were going through.”

Every Thursday Bronya and Katie head out to Worksop town centre - where they regularly meet between 10-15 people in need of a bite to eat and a hot cup of tea.

She said: “Every week we see new faces - a lot of them are probably hanging around before they go to the Hope hostel but you do get new people who’ve just been released from prison with nowhere to go.

“Some of them have probably already eaten but it’s just something to let them know someone cares.

“People say they’re druggies and it’s their own fault but they’re still human beings - I’d like to think if my child ended up like that someone else might help them out.”

Before lockdown began qualified chef Bronya had begun setting up her own business supplying cakes and sweets.

Though her plans were stalled by the pandemic mum-of-three Bronya began baking for friends instead.

She still plans to open a bakery shop in the near future.

Katie Chubb - a development officer for Hope Community Services - says their 22-bed facility on Worksop’ Queens Street is currently at 160 per cent capacity.

She told how the charity was getting between four and five rough-sleeper referrals every day - following on from a huge spike in June.

Hope are asking people in the town to raise money for the hostel by sleeping out - in their garden or kitchen floor - on Friday December 4.

More details are available HERE.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.