Sean Lock and Lee Mack help launch website to assist homeless people
- Sean Lock and Lee Mack have helped to launch a website designed to assist homeless people
- nextmeal.co.uk will allow passers-by to share information about where the nearest support centres are
- The website has been founded by Sean Lock's neighbour, who has volunteered in a soup kitchen for 20 years
Sean Lock and Lee Mack have helped to launch nextmeal.co.uk, a website designed to assist homeless people in various ways, primarily spreading information about where their nearest hot meal is.
The comedians fronted the launch event for the new charity service at London's Leicester Square Theatre yesterday (Tuesday 31st October), alongside Bond actress Naomie Harris.
Nextmeal.co.uk has been founded by Martin Stone, who has worked at the Muswell Hill Soup Kitchen for the last twenty years.
Sean Lock joked: "Martin is my neighbour and after I helped him at the Soup Kitchen he looked at the standard of my washing up shook his head gently and said 'Sean there is another way you can help us'. So I've organised the launch [event] of Nextmeal.co.uk"
The website, which is currently London-focused, is designed to provide passers-by detailed information about where food and support can be found in the capital so they can pass this information on. On mobile devices, GPS identifies your location and locates charities near you that can provide support for homeless people.
Talking more about his idea, Martin Stone explains: "Nextmeal.co.uk can be used by anyone to help people who need a meal and support. At the same time, it informs Londoners what centres are open and how they can help homeless people without giving them money.
"Ultimately, our aim is to help to reduce street homelessness. It empowers people, who see homeless people begging and are concerned about their plight, to respond with out giving the person begging any money.
"What is interesting is that a few friends put this together for no money at all and it does not ask for money. It is the response from every day people living in London who want to help homeless people in an informed and caring manner."
The stars pointed out at the launch the website also aims to help engage potential volunteers at their local soup kitchen or centre. "A lot of Londoners don't know about their nearest soup kitchen where they can help out or donate food. This website highlights just how much is being done by ordinary people to help some of the most vulnerable people in our society."
Naomie Harris says: "Nextmeal.co.uk lists free food and services for the homeless... I meet so many homeless people in London and I am at a loss how to help. But now I've discovered Nextmeal.co.uk"
To find out more visit nextmeal.co.uk
More pictures
Here are some more pictures from the launch, taken by photographer Edward Moore. From left to right: Web developer Oli; founder Martin Stone; Sean Lock; Lee Mack; Naomie Harris.