Welcome to
Soul Kitchen Chester
Creating a positive future for those experiencing homelessness and hardship
"I want to say thank you...
“To you and all others who put their time in to help all that need it like myself. You all go out your ways to feed us, put clothes on our back and any other help you can offer, it’s really helpfull and I for sure am grateful to you all so thank you.”
"Don't worry your not getting rid of me that fast, just because I live in Winsford.
“I remember when soul kitchen started at the magic round about. You and the gang will always be in my thoughts and prayers.”
"I'm blown away yet again.
“The telly is amazing as is the microwave. My kitchen is now equipped thanks to you. I’m watching star trek on my own home cinema and my pals have just left after bringing me reduced custard doughnuts (one of my all time favourites).”
About Soul Kitchen
A 100% voluntary charity providing food and support to those experiencing homelessness and food poverty.
Soul in a Bowl
We provide cookery sessions for those who are homeless and/or in temporary accommodation. These sessions improve self esteem, self confidence, and enable us to build relationships and to offer better support to those that attend.
We currently offer 3 groups per week in Chester and the purpose of the groups is to offer a safe and supportive environment where we can build not only cookery and numeracy skills but also self-confidence and self-esteem.
At the sessions the groups cook and eat together, and a sense of teamwork is engendered.
We offer the opportunity for attendees to take Level 2 Food Hygiene examinations with the longer-term goal of moving into employment.
The Soul Kitchen Story
Back in 2015, a group of friends were feeling increasingly sad and frustrated walking past what seemed like an ever growing number of people sleeping rough on the streets of Chester. They had started chatting to some of the people they walked past and desperately wanted to do more to help.
Sick of walking by and feeling helpless, they set up some tables on the Hoole Way roundabout (aka the magic roundabout!) and each brought a dish of hot food to share with people who needed it. Word soon spread and before long they were drawing a regular crowd.
More volunteers joined and more people came along for food – whatever the weather! The set-up became more sophisticated with hot plates, soup, stews and various sweet and savoury bakes. The highlight was a full Christmas dinner with turkey and all the trimmings, complete with fairy lights.
After a couple of years, the need for food and friendship greater than ever, the opportunity to move indoors to Campbell Hall in Boughton came up. As well as an escape from the elements it came complete with a kitchen, pool table, toilets, shower and even a garden for BBQs in the summer.
Soul Kitchen is proud to be part of Outside In, a partnership of voluntary, community and faith sector organisations, local businesses, CH1 BID, education institutions, health organisations, Forfutures, the council and the police; working together to help people facing homelessness and marginalisation in Chester.
Aims
To enable people to move away from life on the streets
To build relationships and trust through the sharing meals in a welcoming, non-judgmental environment.
To provide activities to improve peoples mental and physical health, and to offer a distraction from the negative influences and boredom of life on the streets.
To support people with often chaotic lifestyles to attend appointments and to get professional support in place.
To support people when they move off the street and into their own property.
Second Bite
Second Bite is the social enterprise project of Soul Kitchen. It is the third step in our 3 step pathway aimed at moving people forwards with their lives and towards employment.
Graduates from our Soul in a Bowl empowerment sessions who have achieved their Level 2 food hygiene certificates and who have shown reliability, join our Second Bite team baking ‘shortbread with soul’ and other baked goods.
Our shortbread biscuits contain no additives and are incredibly moreish! They can currently be purchased from St Peters Café at The Cross in Chester, Shareshop on Pepper Street in Chester and from Weston Grove Fish and Chips in Upton, although we are also looking to expand into other retail outlets.
Every purchase of our shortbread biscuits will help to provide training and employment for somebody who is or who has been homeless.
Help us to make a difference, one biscuit at a time. Second bite empowers those who are homeless to become employed within our social enterprise and gain skills and experience in readiness for full time employment. You will genuinely be helping to change lives.
We offer a number of support services – and a pathway to help people move forward.
Step 1 – an open drop in every Saturday evening at Campbell Hall, Boughton, where we provide hot food and drinks, clothing, shower facilities and most importantly support and conversation.
Step 2 – our empowerment project, Soul in a Bowl which runs weekly cookery sessions. These sessions are all about building self-esteem, learning budgeting skills, having fun and enjoying a communal meal whilst working towards obtaining the skills and self confidence to look for employment and to become self sufficient in the kitchen.
Step 3 – progression into our social enterprise Second Bite – baking ‘shortbread with soul’, and other baked goods which we sell to local independent cafes and retailers.
A Festive Day at Soul Kitchen
What We Do
We offer a number of support services and a pathway to help people move forward with their lives.
Based in the city of Chester, we work with partners across Cheshire to help people access a range of services including housing, mental health, addiction recovery, financial support and employment.
Get Involved
Make a Donation
Your donation will enable us to make a difference to the lives of people in Cheshire West & Chester.
Become a Volunteer
Volunteering with Soul Kitchen is a truly rewarding experience. We’d love to hear from you if you’re not sure where you might fit in, or if you have specific skills you’d like to offer. Our community welcomes everyone.
Be a Corporate Sponsor
Becoming a corporate sponsor of Soul Kitchen is the perfect way for your business to get involved in this amazing project. Your support is greatly appreciated and you will know that you are is having a positive impact on peoples lives.
Amazon Wish List
An Amazon Wish List is a simple way to support Soul Kitchen Chester by purchasing items that a charity has specifically selected and needs. When you choose something from the list, Amazon ships it directly to the us, ensuring your donation goes exactly where it’s needed.
You can support Soul Kitchen by purchasing an item from our Amazon Wish List — every contribution helps us provide essential supplies, warmth, and care to people in our community who need it most.
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Our Partners
Partnership working is at the heart of everything we do. We know that by working together we are stronger and can do more for the people who need it most.
Partnership working is at the heart of everything we do. We know that by working together we are stronger and can do more for the people who need it most.
Adult Safeguarding Policy
Soul Kitchen Chester is committed to safeguarding and promoting the well-being of adults at risk of harm, children, and young people engaged in the breadth of its activities, in line with Working Together 2018, the Care Act 2014 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
Our Adult Safeguarding Policy can be downloaded by clicking the button below: