Carl, a former owner of multiple pubs and hotels, faced bankruptcy two years ago due to escalating costs. Now, during the summer months, he finds shelter on the beach, while in winter, he spends his nights at a 24-hour McDonald’s nursing a single cup of coffee.
His daughters live in a different region with their mother, and to present the facade of a stable life, Carl ensures that video calls are made from a local Wetherspoon’s, positioning a meal and drink in view to convey the image of a man with obligations.
However, unbeknownst to his daughters, the meal is made possible through a discreet WhatsApp group that provides food and beverages for the homeless and those in need throughout the UK.
“This group has been a true lifesaver,” Carl expresses, his voice filled with emotion. “I apologize for getting emotional, but this group allows me not only to connect with my daughters but also to feel normal, as if I belong to society again, free from judgmental looks.”
Currently, over 382,000 individuals in England are without homes, and approximately 14 million people across the UK—about one in six households—struggle to secure enough food.
The group Carl refers to operates without formal offices, charity registration, or paid staff, and lacks a designated name. It is an extension of Wetherspoon’s known as The Game!, a Facebook community comprising over 800,000 members who purchase drinks for each other using the pub chain’s app.
The initiative originated with a straightforward concept: patrons buy drinks for one another in Wetherspoon’s establishments, taking advantage of the app’s unique feature that allows orders from outside the premises.
Participants post a photograph of themselves on the Facebook page, along with their location and table number, and then await someone from elsewhere in the UK to buy them a drink. Recipients are encouraged to reciprocate for others in the future, establishing a casual network of individuals treating one another.
Chris Illman, the founder, initiated the WhatsApp group to assist vulnerable individuals after experiencing homelessness himself. He proposed to his Facebook group that, instead of purchasing drinks for one another, they could buy food and non-alcoholic beverages for those in need. As a result, nearly 700 people joined the dedicated WhatsApp group to respond promptly to requests from individuals seeking assistance in Wetherspoon’s locations nationwide.
To request a meal, a homeless or vulnerable individual—or a family—can reach out to the administrators on the Wetherspoon’s: The Game! Facebook page with their location and meal request, including a photo for verification. An admin, one of ten in the group, will then forward the anonymized request to the WhatsApp donor group.
Donors can claim the requests by indicating what they are willing to order, whether it be a meal, snacks, or simply a response of “anything.” There is no room for thank-yous or social exchanges.
Illman has never promoted this initiative, yet the word has spread that those in need at a Wetherspoon’s can find support. “It has never failed, not once,” Illman asserts. “In fact, donors respond so quickly that it’s crucial to act fast if you want to contribute.”
The group typically handles a few requests daily, but during school holidays, they may receive help requests from 20 to 30 families. Illman recently consulted the community about limiting meal requests, to which the unanimous response was clear: “If someone needs help every day, the group is available for them.”
For Carl, receiving a single hot beverage allows him to stay in the pub for hours, using the Wi-Fi to connect with his daughters and search for jobs.
Since its inception in 2018, the group has provided tens of thousands of meals and hundreds of thousands of snacks to those in need across the UK. In June, they are set to hold their 60th mass meal drop in Scotland, where members will purchase meals in bulk through the Wetherspoon’s app, which will then be distributed by volunteer drivers to local charities.
This upcoming event is anticipated to be the largest to date; at a previous gathering in Liverpool in 2024, the group managed to distribute 300 burgers and drinks within just 20 minutes, collaborating with seven charities that continue to work together.
Maria, a foster carer and mother of two children with special needs, who has also experienced homelessness, contributes what she can through the app weekly. She shared that the initiative helps her feel “there’s more kindness in the world than it might seem,” adding, “It truly makes a difference to me to be part of a community willing to help complete strangers.”
