A new group is feeding the hungry in Bath – without animals suffering.

Helen Wright founded Vegans Against World Hunger to promote like-minded causes around the globe but the coronavirus pandemic gave it a new purpose.

When demand for food banks hit unprecedented levels, she decided to set up one of her own to ensure fellow vegans - along with others in need - got the help they needed.

The Bath resident has followed the strict diet for eight years after being a vegetarian for two decades, saying: "I didn't realise the cruelty involved in the dairy industry and egg farming. I wanted to make sure my beliefs aligned with my actions.

"Then I learned about the other benefits. We use food, land and water [for farming meat]. The more people that are vegan, the more people we would be able to feed.

"The food bank was set up because of the coronavirus pandemic. I wanted to do something to help. There's no other vegan food bank in the area.

"One person I spoke to went to another food bank and would take out anything that wasn't vegan from their food parcel, but it wasn't always replaced [with something vegan]."

The vegan food bank currently feeds about 16 households a week, with food parcels including beans, lentils, fresh fruit and vegetables, vegan alternatives to milk, and a treat.

"Being vegans, we don't provide non-vegan products but you don't have to be a vegan to use the food bank," said Helen, who works in human resources.

"We're open to anyone who declares they are financially suffering. As long as we can afford it and have the food available we will support people for as long as they need it.

"We currently run the food bank from home and are hoping to find some free premises to operate from and would be really grateful or any offers of help with this.

"We're also looking for more volunteers. We currently need drivers to collect donations and deliver the food parcels. If we do find new premises we'll also need volunteers to help sort the donations and pack the food parcels.

"We have a house-to-house collections permit (issued by B&NES Council) and are also looking for volunteers to collect food in their local neighbourhoods on a contact-free basis."

The food bank recently received a grant from the National Lottery community fund and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. The money will help it support people who are struggling financially due to the coronavirus but not for other reasons so it has launched a fundraiser which you can access by clicking HERE the Just Giving site

The food bank currently delivers to Bath and North East Somerset residents in the BA1, BA2, BA3 and BS31 postcodes.

It needs more volunteers and is seeking premises to store products that it can access once or twice a week.

Vegan food, toiletries and household products can be donated at the food bank's collection points in The Vegan Café in Moorland Road, Newleaf Healthfoods in Shaftesbury Road, and Seasons Natural Health Store in George Street.

For more information or to help, email [email protected] or call 07367 400636 between 10am and 2pm Monday to Friday.