There’s Always A Friendly Ear At The End Of The Rainbow
Joanne Harris 13th October 2018
We need your help, we need donations. Remember a homeless person is homeless all year round and not just for Christmas.
Newbury Soup Kitchen at the Salvation Army
The Newbury Soup Kitchen is a joint venture initiative with the Newbury Salvation Army. It is a voluntary organisation providing help and support to the Newbury homeless, rough sleeper community and those less fortunate than others. The primary operation is a friendly drop-in centre for vulnerable adults who perhaps have mental health issues or are just lonely. All are greeted with hot food and drinks every Thursday evening. A warm welcome awaits people who wish to socialise, find support, enjoy a hot meal and interact with like-minded people.
Please Donate
We are in desperate need of tents, sleeping bags, ground sheets and tarpaulins. Here are some selected items from out Amazon Wish List that will make a difference. Thanking you in advance for your help.
Donate Now
Volunteers
Please contact us to offer your support, in whatever capacity. We always welcome assistance on Thursday evenings to collect, prepare and serve food. Most volunteers assist on a rota basis if they cannot commit every week.
Learn More
Hot Food And Drinks
Hot food and drinks are provided free of charge. On the menu are soup, beans on toast, sandwiches and cakes. All foodstuff is kindly donated by local businesses and the Newbury community as a whole, for which we are very grateful.
Thank You
Address And Opening Hours
The Newbury Soup Kitchen at the Salvation Army hall is open from 6.00pm to 8.00pm every Thursday. You will find us at 8 Northcroft Lane, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 1BU.
Contact Us
Meet The Team
Meryl
Founder And general Manager
I conceived the idea of the Newbury Soup Kitchen in November 2016 while working for the Newbury Food Bank at the Salvation Army hall. It came to my attention that the Loose Ends drop-in centre did not open on a Thursday, therefore there was a need for an additional resources for the homeless
Jan
Kitchen Manager
I met Meryl whilst volunteering at the Foodbank in Newbury. Little did I know then what a dynamic and inspirational person she was. She came up with the idea of the Soup Kitchen, asked if I would like to be involved and as they say the rest is history.
Mai Britt
Session Manager
I moved to England from Denmark in August 2017 and had decided that I wanted to do some volunteering to get to know people. I have worked in Denmark within mental health and substance abuse and wanted to put my experience to good use. I came across Meryl and the work she was doing with the other volunteers.
Kitchen News and Gossip
Weekly Reports
News
Rough Sleepers In Fear After Campsite Arson Attack
Joanne Harris 6th October 2018
Rough sleepers camping by the football club had their tents set alight at about 12pm on Wednesday. Thankfully no one was hurt.
Appeal
We Have An Appeal For Used Mobile Phones
Mark Lewis 8th September 2018
Appeal! Please can you help by donating any of your used mobile phones to help the homeless and less fortunate in our community.
Advice
Heatwave Level 3 Alert And SWEP Support
Mark Lewis 3rd July 2018
Rough sleepers wishing to access the support offered under our severe weather emergency protocol should come along to our Market Street offices between 10.00am and 2.00pm to see how we can help.
National Rough Sleeper Crisis
A total of 4,134 people were counted or estimated by local authorities to be sleeping rough in England on any one night in autumn 2016, an increase of 16% from the 3,569 figure of 2015. Figures show that the number of people sleeping rough has more than doubled in the last two years. Local authorities’ counts and estimates indicate an increase of 2,366 rough sleepers (134%) since the current methodology for measuring rough sleeping began in 2010.
London has a total of 964 people sleeping rough, an increase of 3% from the 2015 figure of 940. There were significant increases in rough sleeping in East England (44%) and in the North West (42%). In 2016, London accounted for 23% of the total number of rough sleepers, compared to 26% in 2015. The South East continues to account for a high percentage of the total number of people sleeping rough (23%).
Westminster remains the local authority with the highest number of rough sleepers, a total of 260 people compared to 2015 figure of 265. Bristol is the only other local authority in the top 10 to report a reduction in the number of rough sleepers (-23). Birmingham and Redbridge are in the top 10 in 2016 but were not in the top ten in 2015.