St Thomas Food Fight

Yesterday the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) published the official annual snapshot estimate of the numbers of people sleeping rough in each local authority area across England in autumn 2025. Numbers in Exeter? 51. 51 people counted sleeping rough on the night of 12 November 2025. That is a 364% change over the 2024 count, which is in part due to a change in methodology from overnight count to count plus estimate. This is the highest number ever recorded for the city since the snapshot was first carried out in 2010. The previous highest estimate was 41 people sleeping rough in November 2016.

Exeter’s figures place the city within the top 5 local authorities and districts in England with an estimated rate of 36.8 people rough sleeping per 100,000 population count. Our CEO Peter Stephenson said, "The key thing for me is that now we have a more realistic picture of the numbers sleeping rough in our city. This will help to inform the strategy to get people off the streets and into stable accommodation. For too long the number of rough sleepers has been significantly underestimated."

Via @stpetrocks.bsky.social on Facebook

Exeter is in the top 5 English authorities for rough sleeping per 100,000 people.

Numbers are the highest number ever recorded for the city.

www.facebook.com/share/183bWK...

Black and white photo of early volunteers at Food Fight

A brief history of the group
www.facebook.com/share/p/1BbL...

It's a simple thing we're doing: Just sharing free food with everyone. And it brings us all a little bit closer. ❤️

A huge thank you to the very many people who have been making Food Fight possible over the years: cooking tasty food; turning up in all weathers; helping store or transport our equipment; donating food or money or clothes; sharing our posts; tipping us off about food that would otherwise go to waste

Collection of images of food being served on Cowick Street

This year is the 10th anniversary of St Thomas Food Fight!

It's amazing to note that we've been sharing free hot food and drinks on Cowick Street since 2016.

If you see someone sleeping rough and you want to put them in touch with local support services, please use Streetlink
thestreetlink.org.uk

Cowick Street location

Anyway, St Thomas Food Fight will be serving hot food and drinks tomorrow morning (New Year's Day) on Cowick Street, opposite the Post Office. 11:30am to 12:30pm.

Everyone welcome, not only the homeless. And we will be providing free warm hats, gloves, scarves, and socks too. And mince pies.

Exeter weather for the next few days

Torquay weather for the next few days

Does anyone know why Torbay Council has triggered their Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP), but Exeter City Council @exetercouncil.bsky.social hasn't?

It's freezing out there. 🥶🌨️💨

And with the wind chill it's even worse.

Benches near a railway bridge on Cowick Street

Love Food CIC community food hub

Just give the items a clean and drop them at our table on Cowick Street, Sundays 11:30am-12:30pm, opposite the Post Office.

Or, during the week, label them "For St Thomas Food Fight" and hand them to our friends at Love Food CIC (94 Cowick Street).

Gloves, socks, hat, and reading glasses on a bench

If you're upgrading your winter clothes, we'd be very happy to pass on the old ones to good homes.

There are lots of people who'd really appreciate usable hats, gloves, walking socks, and scarves over winter. 🙂

St Petrock’s launches fundraising appeal as number of people sleeping rough in Exeter continues to rise - Exeter Observer Campaign film underscores dedicated homelessness charity mission as demand for its support services grows.

ICYMI // St Petrock’s launches fundraising appeal as number of people sleeping rough in Exeter continues to rise

Campaign film underscores dedicated homelessness charity mission as demand for its support services grows.

exeterobserver.org/2025/11/17/s...

Small donations of four bags or fewer can be dropped at the centre from 9.45am to 4pm Monday to Thursday, and until 1pm on Friday.

To arrange to drop-off larger donations contact St Petrock’s at info@stpetrocks.org.uk or by telephone on 01392 422396

Also, the Mint Methodist Church Centre is accepting donations for St Petrock's of essentials such as rucksacks, sleeping bags and clothing as well as small gifts such as chocolate, torches and hairbrushes.

Christmas Appeal 2025 YouTube video by St Petrock's Exeter

A great video about the vital work that St Petrock's does for those who are homeless in Exeter.

If you're in a position to donate money or your time, please consider St Petrock's.

youtu.be/i4Z3moucVDQ

This photo shows two smiling people standing behind a table set up outdoors, offering free food and drinks. On the table in front of them are various items: a large cooking pot on a portable stove, several brown paper bags, bananas, a tin with wrapped snacks, bottles of water and orange juice, a tin of instant coffee, cups, and an insulated beverage dispenser.

We need volunteers to help serve hot food and drinks on Sundays (11:30am - 12:30pm).
If you can help once a month, please DM us.

Heat alert

An Amber Heat Health Alert has been Issued for All of England

In effect: 19 Jun, 12pm – 23 Jun, 9am

High temperatures are expected to cause significant impacts across the country.

Find out more: ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/weather-heal...

Post for St Thomas Food Fight by Boudicca Lee Maloney Woodland Today, from 11.30am (Cowick St opposite Post Office) Prepping lunches for today (vegetable soup, bread rolls, snacks and drinks). No hot drinks today unfortunately -if you'd like to help us by volunteering please message or email stthomasfoodfight@gmail.com

Takeaway food today 🙂

Three smiling volunteers stand by an outside table on which are items such as a hot water flask, biscuits, and food bowls.

We're looking for volunteers!

To find out more about serving at the table, come along one Sunday between 11:30am and 12:30pm, opposite the Post Office on Cowick Street.

To find out more about cooking for us (one-pot vegetarian food), or if you're a potential Duke of Edinburgh volunteer, please DM.

Always great to help @stthomasfoodfight.bsky.social on a Sunday morning (we normally operate from 11:30am-12.30pm, but today we were around for a little longer).

We’ve left some food bags out for those in need.

#StThomas #Exwick #FreeFood #CommunitySupport

www.facebook.com/share/p/1GDA...

A big shout-out for Love Food CIC this #FoodActionWeek.

#StThomas-based #LoveFoodCIC work to address #FoodPoverty, reduce #FoodWaste, help people eat better and bring the local community together.

#Exeter #Exwick #WestExe #FreeFood #CommunitySupport #CowickStreet

www.facebook.com/CAGDevon/pos...

Thanks for stepping in at such late notice, @mrjohnharvey.bsky.social. Much appreciated!

It may be ☀️, but it’s still 🥶 and the help provided by
@stthomasfoodfight.bsky.social (providing hot food & drinks for those in need) is as important as ever.

It’s always a pleasure to help out at #StThomas Food Fight on a Sunday.

www.facebook.com/story.php?st...

#Exwick #WestExe #Exeter

Annual city council rough sleeper count “consistently underestimates” extent of Exeter rough sleeping - Exeter Observer Homelessness charity St Petrock’s calls on council to change count methodology which identifies fewer rough sleepers than those known by outreach workers and reflected in government figures.

FEATURES // Annual city council rough sleeper count “consistently underestimates” extent of Exeter rough sleeping

Homelessness charity St Petrock’s calls for change to methodology which identifies fewer rough sleepers than those known by outreach workers.

exeterobserver.org/2025/03/11/a...

Freezing overnight conditions

The City Council is activating its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) from Thursday 27 February until Monday 3 March.

Temperatures are expected to go up next week but the Council will review the Protocol on Monday.

Read more ▶▶▶ news.exeter.gov.uk/extra-measur...

Have you visited the brilliant #LoveFoodCIC, in #CowickStreet, #StThomas (open Monday to Thursday 10am-3pm)? Check out information on their #CommunityFridge and regular Thursday pay-what-you-can #LunchClub 👇🏻

#Exwick #WestExe #FreeFood #CommunitySupport

m.facebook.com/story.php?st...

Post by One Mile Bakery Exeter at Cowick Street. Roasted winter vegetable pasta heading to the St Thomas Food Fight stall (on the precinct by the old NatWest) - warm food, snacks, teas, and coffees for anyone who needs it 11.30am-1 2.30pm every Sunday Made with leftover veg donated by @shillorganics to the @lovefoodcic St Thomas Community Fridge #WeLoveStThomas #wearestthomas #StThomasExeter #Exeter #lovefoodhatewaste #CowickSt #CowickStExe #cowickstreetexeter

Thanks @boudiccaw.bsky.social 🙂

Always good to help out at #StThomas Food Fight on a Sunday morning… On hot drinks duty this morning!

Good to leave some bags with #FreeFood behind outside former NatWest Bank in #CowickStreet this lunchtime for anyone who’s in need of it…

#WestExe #Exwick #Exeter

Exeter City Council

The City Council has activated its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol, which will be in place through Thu, Fri, Sat, and Sun.

Forecasts indicate that temperatures will rise on Sun, so the Council will review the protocol on Mon.

Read more ▶▶▶ tinyurl.com/ws486wj5

Post by Liz Shinn: "Our additional Boxing Day session went well with the festive vegetable casserole and sage, onion and cranberry sauce stuffing very popular. Thank you to Exeter College for the donated food parcels and festive treats we were able to distribute today." Photographs of the casserole, cake and goodie bags

Well done to Liz, Helen, Mary Ann, Danni and all the kind people who donated to make this happen 🙂⭐

Two people smiling by a sign reading "Exeter College donations for St Thomas Food Fight"

Many thanks to staff and students at Exeter College for their very kind donations of goodies for our provision of free food over Christmas and New Year