‘Free meals for homeless’ cafe in London’s East End at risk as donations dry up

The Canvas's founder says takings were so low as cost of living crisis bites she thought tills were broken

The founder of a London social enterprise that gives free meals to refugees and the homeless has said it is at risk of closure because the cost of living crisis has led to a collapse in sales and donations.

Ruth Rogers, the founder of The Canvas in the East End of London, said there had been a dramatic collapse in trade in its cafe in recent weeks, with takings so low that one day she thought its tills were broken.