A project turning unwanted food into delicious meals is on a quest to obtain its own premises.

The Real Junk Food Project (RJFP) Plymouth branch, which has staged regular pop-up lunches for families in Liskeard, is based in founder Jessica Sneyd’s home kitchen.

In its first nine months, the project has intercepted five tonnes of food that would otherwise have gone to landfill. Jessica and her team of 25 volunteers have provided healthy meals on a ‘pay as you feel’ basis for more than 2,000 people.

Now the project has ambitious plans to move into its own HQ - and its crowdfunding appeal to raise £10,000 will close on January 24. The total raised by this date will be match funded by Santander bank, says Jessica.

A suitable premises has been located, but work needs to be done to convert it into a working kitchen and food storage space.

‘Since launching the crowd fund we have found a great premises and a walk in freezer,’ said Jessica.

‘With these resources we can increase the food we intercept and the meals we provide to people. There is still lots to do though - the kitchen space needs work, and the freezer needs to be built!’

With the total currently standing at around £2,500, Jessica says any amount below £10,000 will still enable the project to move forward.

‘If we reach £5,000, we’ll be able to fit the kitchen with storage and new flooring, and buy extra portable hobs, soup urns, cutlery and crockery, so we can pop up in more places in our community,’ she said.

The RJFP’s longer-term aim is to develop its work with youth groups, housing projects and shelters, and provide cooking classes and healthy food for an even wider range of people.

To support the crowdfunding appeal visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-real-junk-food-project