This session was one of the quietest we have had for a while only 35 people. We had Roast Vegetable Soup, Pork, Frankfurter and Bean Stew made by the head chef Henry from the wonderful Henry and Joes restaurant. Sandra and Carrie along with Carol and Victoria served the food to our clients. They work hard to give the clients a wonderful meal with a smile and complete dedication. The food went down very well and we want to thank Henry for producing a wonderful meal.
The restaurant has agreed to cook a main course every other week for us. A side dish of Carrots and Green Beans, Potato Salad and finally Apple and blackberry crumble with custard.
Last week we talked about the uncertainty and feelings of fear and isolation living in a tent gives. One of the tents was thrown into the river one weekend recently, belongings included. Sadly it was visible from outside the front of the Soup Kitchen. We witnessed some people disgruntled at the site of a tent in the river. These people automatically assumed the mess was down to the actions of a homeless person. Assumptions and attitudes towards rough sleepers by some are upsetting to hear. This person is now safe and been placed in accommodation and off the streets for the winter months.
This week was the Annual Rough Sleeper Count.
This is an annual single snapshot of the number of people sleeping rough Nationally. The results presented will provide national summary statistics on rough sleeping using information collected by local authorities in England between a certain period. The guidelines are below:
“People sleeping, about to bed down (sitting on/in or standing next to their bedding) or actually bedded down in the open air (such as, on the streets, in tents, doorways, parks, bus shelters or encampments). People in buildings or other places not designed for habitation (such as stairwells, barns, sheds, car parks, cars, derelict boats, stations, or ‘bashes’).
The definition does not include people in hostels or shelters, sofa surfers, people in campsites or other sites used for recreational purposes or organised protests, squatters or Travellers sites.
- Accurately counting or estimating the number of people sleeping rough within a local authority is inherently difficult given the hidden nature of rough sleeping. There are a range of factors that can impact on the number of people seen or thought to be sleeping rough on any given night. This includes the weather, where people choose to sleep, the date and time chosen, and the availability of alternatives such as night shelters.
Nevertheless, there are many practical difficulties in counting the number of people sleeping rough within a local authority area. It is not always possible to cover the entire area of a local authority in a single evening, so street counts may be targeted according to local intelligence. People may bed down at different times meaning some may be missed. Some places where people bed down may be difficult or unsafe for those conducting the street count to access.
For such reasons, the figures in this release are subject to some uncertainty. In addition to the difficulty of finding everyone who is sleeping rough, various factors can affect the number of people who are sleeping rough on any given night, such as the availability of alternatives such as night shelters, the weather, where people choose to sleep, and the date and time chosen for the snapshot assessment.
West Berkshire Council, Newbury Soup Kitchen, Two Saints, West Berkshire Homeless, Healthwatch, Housing First and Loose Ends, worked closely together to ensure the most accurate figures of rough sleeping in this area will be reported. Over the last year we have all worked very hard to house people who have been rough sleeping and we will continue to do so.
We want to say a huge thank you to all the companies, members of the public and organisations who donated raffle prizes for the Firework Event at West Berkshire Brewery. The evening went so well and over 300 tickets were sold. The raffle raised £630 for Newbury Soup Kitchen. This money will help pay for Bed and Breakfast for rough sleepers in need of extra support. Thank you.
We had prizes from: Bombay Sapphire Distillery, F&M, Donnington Grove, Flower Pot Cafe, Angelica’s, The Vineyard Hotel, Jason Palmer Hairdresser, David Lloyd, John Lewis, Nandos, Vue Cinema, Hare & Hounds, The Chequers, Newbury Rugby Club and many others!
Christmas is around the corner. There are lots of different ways that financial donations can be made. We have a Just Giving account, a brand new The Good Exchange Project and Facebook. Cheques can be made out to Newbury Soup Kitchen and posted to Newbury Soup Kitchen, 8 Northcroft Lane, Newbury RG14 1BU
We are trying to keep donations to items we need and can use therefore we have produced a “Wish List” .
We are very thankful for all donations but we request that you stick to the list otherwise the donation may not be used to its best affect. PLEASE CONTACT US BEFORE YOU DONATE ITEMS TO ARRANGE DELIVERY. UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE UNABLE TO PICK DONATIONS UP.
info@newburysoupkitchen.org.uk
