Newbury Soup Kitchen Services
Newbury Soup Kitchen serves freshly cooked, nutritious three-course meals every Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday evening for the homeless, vulnerably housed, and those in need across Newbury and West Berkshire. However, this is far more than just providing food—it takes a dedicated team of volunteers to prepare nearly 150 meals each week, and our work extends well beyond that.
Our mission is to offer more than just nourishment; we provide a wide range of essential support and outreach services to care for the whole person—physically, emotionally, and socially. We spend quality time with our clients, offering support, encouragement, and empathy to help improve their circumstances and future. By building trust and meaningful relationships, we empower individuals to regain confidence and make better life choices.
We advocate tirelessly for the vulnerable, ensuring their voices are heard.
At the heart of our work is a commitment to treating everyone with dignity, respect, and kindness—qualities often lacking in everyday life for many of those we help.
We are passionate about what we do and remain dedicated to our long-term goal of finding our forever home to place all our services under one roof in central Newbury. A place to accommodate outreach, food provision, support and advocacy working alongside other statutory and charitable services that are able to compliment our services.
At our sit-down three course meal sessions provide enhanced the support, providing our visiting clients a space to relax, play chess or cards, read newspapers, and engage with our volunteers in a welcoming environment. Everyone is invited to join us—on their own terms.
We have a mobile vehicle which we take out during the week to provide a two-course hot fresh meal and support. This gives Newbury Soup Kitchen the ability to go to the person in need. This provides more scope to reach out to more people in a more flexible way.
Beyond meals, we provide vital support services, working alongside local authorities and partner organizations to assist those struggling with housing, debt, health issues, or substance dependency.
We are also proud to have partnered with the Samaritans on a Thursday evening which has huge values. Every Thursday, their team joins us to offer professional, confidential support to clients in crisis or simply in need of a heartfelt conversation. This service complements our existing outreach efforts.
Additionally, we help those sleeping rough by providing access to laundry facilities and shower tokens through our local Leisure Centre.
All our outreach services are free and extend beyond our meal provision. No matter the circumstances we maintain a structured weekly timetable to ensure ongoing, confidential support in a relaxed setting. Please see the link below for more details on our services:
https://newburysoupkitchen.org.uk/outreach-and-support-services/
What CAN We Do? Signposting and Outreach:
- Assist with PIP and UC Applications
- Assist with referrals to local authorities or other statutory
- Assist with interest in educational development.
- Assist with housing enquiries, registrations, and qualifying criteria; and
- Assist with medical referrals (including Dependency Issues & Mental Health).
What We Do Not Do ?
Whilst we look to assist as much as we can, there are of course things we cannot do, or cannot involve ourselves in. Below is a general list of things we cannot do or be involved in:
- Clearing an individuals’ debts or arrears*.
- Lending money or advising on such affairs*.
- Provide clothing, hats, gloves for re-sale (a register is maintained accordingly).
- Provide money for prescriptions or over the counter
- Provide direct assistance with dependency issues
- Provide legal advice (we occasionally have referral solicitors who can assist).
* – we encourage engagement with statutory services, and we support individuals in taking responsibility for their arrears, working with local authorities and hostels directly to remedy issues before any possible eviction is enforced.
by West Berkshire Council
