An independent café in Ipswich has launched a weekly "pay as you feel" day for people struggling to afford a bowl of warm soup.
The vegan Hullabaloo café, in St Peter's Street, has chosen Wednesday to be its "pay as you feel soup" day, so that every customer can enjoy a seasonal homemade soup at a price they can afford.
Jon Halls, one of the owners, said: "The weather is getting colder, and we are a value-based café. It's not just about providing good, local, homemade food, which we aspire to, but our community, environment, waste policy, and linking up people.
"The intention is to continue this over the cold months, but we want to see how it goes and be running this until further notice. Nights are drawing in, and those who are homeless or on the street are really going to be suffering.
"We want them to have at least one place where they can come and have something hot, and they don't have to worry about whether they have the money for it. It's about the spirit of being together through food.
"We have had people come in, and we tell them it is pay as you feel day, so what feels good to you? They ask what is it normally. I say £5.90 normally, and then they will give me £7.
"I expect people to pay less and not more. It's a really lovely response. They say it can go towards the people who cannot afford it."
Hullabaloo moved to its town centre location in 2019, having opened a year earlier in a shop in Cemetery Road.
The café is run by a set of guiding principles, which include using seasonal wholefoods sourced responsibly and locally, zero waste, low carbon responsibility, personal health and community.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here