Mitzvah Day is spreading its wings with a food aid venture to which 15 firms and community organisations have already signed up.

Friday November 18 will be Give Away Your Lunch Day, designed to forge ties between offices and local homeless charities. Staff will be encouraged to buy an extra lunch, fresh or packaged, to go to the needy.

Financial services companies already on board include Investec Bank, Lansdowne Partners, MET Capital Management and International Standard Asset Management, whose chairman Lord Fink said: "Give Away Your Lunch is a great initiative and a smart new way to link companies with local charities.

"I'm delighted that ISAM will be taking part. This will hopefully lead to the establishment of many ongoing relationships between businesses and charities within local communities."

Community groups supporting the lunch scheme include the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Community Centre, where chief executive Nick Viner pointed out: "Even in leafy NW3, we know there are very many needy people and we hope this modest contribution will make a positive difference to some of them."

‘A smart way to link companies with charities’

The sixth national Mitzvah Day will be on November 20, when an estimated 20,000-plus volunteers will support upwards of 800 activities.

It has the backing of religious leaders of all the major faiths and there will be at least 50 interfaith projects this year.