Food and Faith: Peter Bollom’s Story

Follow the smell of pancakes, omelettes and bacon and you’ll find Peter Bollom, dressed in an apron and serving residents at YMCA Exeter’s Lighthouse Café.  

For the last five years, Peter, together with a stream of residents and volunteers, has run the café – providing a warm, family-style kitchen environment and delicious food for residents.  

Peter’s journey to YMCA Exeter is a story of faith, following God’s leading as he’s discovered his natural giftings.   

“In the 1980s I was working as a tax inspector,” explains Peter. “Friends invited me to church and in 1986 I made the decision to follow Christ. Shortly after I felt God calling me to leave the tax office. 

“Not that there’s anything wrong with working in tax,” he hastily adds, smiling. “But I think God just had other plans for me.” 

For a while, Peter worked for a house church and tried his hand at street evangelism.  

“I think I’m the only person who’s been fired from being an evangelist,” Peter laughs. “I’m great at talking to people but I can never get to the point. But through my work at the church I discovered I was a natural at working with homeless people.”  

A 33-year career 

With a new focus, Peter trained as a psychiatric nurse. He laughs explaining how despite trying at times to leave the profession, God has constantly brought him back. Peter’s career has spanned 33 years, taking him as far as Siberia, working with the homeless and people living with addictions.  

“Most recently, I was based at a community farm in Devon where drug and alcohol addicts would come for detoxing,” Peter explains. “The process was effective, but each person had to be self-referred. 

“The thing with addiction is that friends and family are desperate for them to get clean, but the person has to reach rock bottom and want it – because the pain of getting off it has to be better than the pain of staying on it.” 

After 15 years at the community farm, Peter found it was time to move on. He discovered that God was leading him to a new arena: YMCA Exeter.  

A new season  

“It’s been five years now and YMCA Exeter is definitely the best place I’ve worked,” says Peter. “They have a clear pathway for residents to follow, it’s rewarding and empowering. I love seeing how the young people move through the four stages of housing, gradually coming out of their shells and beginning to thrive.”  

Quietly and gently, Peter supports residents, many of whom come from broken families. From daily chats in the café to trips to Dartmoor and sports activities at local churches, Peter’s work is varied, but the bottom line is that he’s always available, a steady presence in the lives of young people.  

“I remember a resident who before he came to YMCA Exeter had stayed in his room for five years,” says Peter. “Now having been through the pathway he’s living independently and holding down a job.” 

Peter connects with residents and encourages them to pursue their dreams. Most recently, Peter’s gentle support has led to the first YMCA Exeter resident training and running the London Marathon. 

“Peter provided me with a non-judgmental, relaxed environment while encouraging me every step of the way when training for my marathon, says John. “His calm and easygoing nature made him great company and helped ease my anxiety during the marathon training.” 

Peter’s dedication to his work is evident. He’s always the first person to celebrate the success of a resident as they take their first step to volunteer, move into their first job or discover a new opportunity. And at the heart of all he does is his faith, a solid foundation for everything he brings to his work.