Welcome to the Newbury Soup Kitchen....

We’re committed to providing high-quality, nutritious meals at all our sessions.  We prepare a varied menu from donated fresh produce food that not only supports care and wellbeing but also tastes amazing.

We take hygiene and food safety extremely seriously, and we’re proud to maintain the highest standards. Out volunteers and staff are fully trained and are passionate about delivering a quality service within strict guidelines. Following our latest inspection by the Food Standards Agency in July 2025, we were once again awarded a 5-star rating.

 

“Lovely stroganoff love from James and Katie, hugs and kisses to all the staff that helps and works so hard at the Soup Kitchen. We enjoy every meal you cook, don’t know what we would do without you guys. You help so many people with mental health and welfare problems, the homeless and the vulnerable, you’re doing a brilliant job Thanks so much”.

Quote from a client.

"I'd like to say I am very grateful to you all. You really do make a massive difference difference to those that you help. I have been one of them many times especially during lockdown and really am so grateful. It's not just the food, it's the kindness, being treated and spoken to like a human being, helping people get dental treatment, haircuts and people get to chat and catch up with each other, anything you can help with you will. What you all do is genuinely life saving. Thank you"

Soup Kitchen Client

“ It’s ironic that a charity that helps the homeless is potentially becoming homeless itself and we at Greenham Trust are doing all we can to help identify a new building for them to occupy. If any building owners have a building that might be suitable then please let us or Newbury  Soup Kitchen know.”  Chris Boulton CEO Greenham Trust

Team of the Year 2025

West Berkshire Business 2024-2025

Charity of the Year 2024

Charity of the Year for the Disadvantaged 2024

Who are the Soup Dragons

Soup Dragons

Who are our awesome Soup Dragons? See the companies who are signed up monthly donors. Directly helping the most vunerable in our community.
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Soup Dragaons

Sponsors & Supporters

Thank You !

We would like to thank each and every sponsor and supporter who has helped with food donations, storage facilities, items and more....

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Thank You

Contact Us

Contact Us

Call us:
Outreach 07751 526859 & 07936 896139
Operational 07719 183439
Meryl our CEO & Founder 07583637588
Contact Us
Contact Us

Can you support our Newbury 10k runners on a crazy day of 30deg +

News

Cuckooing – the Crime and Policing Act 2026

25th May 2026

On 29 April 2026, the Crime and Policing Act came into force and introduced a new offence specifically targeting the practice commonly referred to as “cuckooing.” The offence concerns situations where criminals exploit another person’s home by using it as a base for unlawful activity. This can include offences connected to drug operations, sexual exploitation, or the financial manipulation of vulnerable occupants.

The legislation makes it unlawful for an individual to dominate or occupy another person’s residence for the purpose of carrying out criminal conduct. Anyone convicted under the new provisions may receive a custodial sentence of up to five years, an unlimited fine, or both penalties together.

Read More »

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Who Are We & What Do We Do ?

Meryl – Founder & CEO with a client
Clients queuing for a hot meal on a thursday
client
Where Someone Cares
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Our arms and doors are open to all.

We provide a comprehensive hot meal provision, a friendly face and welcome opportunity to sit chat, offload and feel safe. A warm welcome awaits anyone wishing to socialise, find support, enjoy a fresh cooked hot meal and interact with likeminded people.

THURSDAY sessions at St Joseph’s Church hall also offer haircuts, Samaritans, drug and alcohol outreach, Community Nurse, fuel debt outreach. This is to compliment the other basic provisions and amenities such as shower and laundry tokens, Foodbank referral, toiletries, emergency food/kettle hot water packs, tents, sleeping bags warm clothes to name a few. If a person comes to us with a problem, if we cannot help, we will find someone who can. 

TUESDAYS: We provide individual outreach services where our clients can access Optometry services free of charge. Oue wonderful Community Nurse comes 2-4pm on a Tuesday to support homeless, vulnerable clients who may not find it easy to engage with traditional medical routes. This bespoke support highlights serious health issues and illnesses that may have gone undiagnosed.

These services are essential to start the journey of engagement, building trust with our clients and making a difference to people who perhaps no hope in life. Newbury Soup Kitchen works hard to give back HOPE.

WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAYS: We have a wonderful food truck that is loaded with all the provision required to support people who are rough sleeping, sofa surfing and vulnerably housed. The service is held from The Wharf 6-7pm on Wednesdays and 5-6pm on Saturdays. A hot meal and takeaway parcel are available for all. The food like a Thursday is cooked fresh by qualified volunteers from fresh donated food from local supermarkets.

We are busy every day outside our food sessions. We have a wonderful network of volunteers who provide support with housing, benefits applications, fuel debt support and day to day issues that arise.

Queue outside
Working behind the scenes
Working with other medical services
Jane and Julie preparing fresh food

Support from our local community is Key and we are proud that Will Young (Singer & Actor) is our Patron.

Will says “I’m so thrilled and honoured to become a patron of Newbury Soup Kitchen. Having lived near Newbury my entire life to be able to be part of an incredible organisation and bring support to the local homeless people fills me with deep humility”

Whilst we are fortunate enough to have use of St Joseph’s facilities on a Thursday evening (Wednesday & Saturdays are mobile with a slightly reduced menu – operating out of our catering van at the Wharf)

we are keen to expand our offering – but this requires dedicated premises. We are actively searching for premises in the Newbury area and our fundraising efforts assist in supporting this effort. Our vision is to provide a community centre where our clients can be assisted in a safe environment 365 days a year.   

Will Young – our Patron with Meryl (CEO & Founder) & 3 of our clients

National Rough Sleeper Crisis

Tent 8

The Impact of Trauma on Mental Health, Addiction, and Homelessness

Trauma can have a profound impact on a person’s life. It plays a significant and often overlooked role in the intersection of mental health, addiction, and homelessness. For many individuals, deep-seated emotional wounds become the catalyst for a devastating cycle of mental health disorders, substance abuse, and ultimately, homelessness. Conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) frequently arise from unresolved trauma, leading many to seek relief through substance use. This self-medication, however, often exacerbates the issues, spiralling into full-blown addiction and further diminishing overall well-being ….Read More

Do we know many people are homeless in West Berkshire and the UK?

The scale of homelessness Nationally is extremely difficult to count and establish. Homelessness comes in many forms which many do not realise. Rough sleepers are the visible homeless but there are people trapped and living a life of homelessness away from the community eye in temporary accommodation, hostels, people’s sofas or floors and night shelters.

Hidden homelessness, known as sofa surfing, is incredibly difficult to count and impossible to quantify as people stay with friends or relatives out of sight and often do not consider themselves to be homeless and do not contact local authorities or charities………..

Click here for the full story

Dual Diagnosis

What is the link between mental health and substance misuse?

When a person has both a substance abuse addiction and a mental health issue such as bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety, it is called a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder. Dealing with substance abuse, alcoholism, or drug addiction is incredibly difficult and known for destroying relationships, jobs and mental health…….. Read More