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
We are a group of volunteers who provide food and support to anyone experiencing loneliness, food poverty or homelessness.
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 presently need volunteers to help us run our cookery sessions in Chester – click on the image below to find out more!!
We currently offer 3 groups per week, two in Chester and one in Ellesmere Port. 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.
What We Do
We cook food, run activities and offer a listening ear to find out what people need to 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.
We offer a number of support services –
A ‘drop in’ provision every Saturday evening at Campbell Hall, Boughton, where we provide hot food and drinks, clothing, shower facilities and most importantly support and conversation.
We run weekly cookery sessions, ‘Soul in a Bowl’. 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.
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.
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.