Soul Kitchen exists to create a positive future for people in Cheshire West & Chester who are experiencing homelessness and hardship. Their work centres on providing dignified, relationship-based support that helps individuals move away from the streets, rebuild confidence and access the services they need to move forward.
Thanks to the generous support of the Ursula Keyes Trust, Soul Kitchen has been able to strengthen and expand its ‘Soul in a Bowl’ cookery and wellbeing programme, one of their most impactful initiatives. The Trust’s grant has enabled the charity to purchase essential kitchen and catering equipment, which has significantly improved the quality, safety and capacity of the sessions they deliver.
‘Soul in a Bowl’ offers three weekly cookery classes where participants, many of whom are homeless, in temporary accommodation or adjusting to independent living, can develop practical skills, build confidence and enjoy a communal meal in a safe, supportive environment. The grant-funded equipment, including a refrigerator, freezer, professional mixer, worktables and sink units, has made it possible for Soul Kitchen to run these sessions more efficiently and to welcome more participants.
The programme focuses on budgeting, cooking, teamwork and responsibility. Each session is supported by a Forfutures worker, ensuring individuals can also be guided towards housing, mental health support, addiction recovery services, financial advice and employment pathways. Many participants progress to achieving their Level 2 Food Hygiene for Catering certificate, and several have gone on to college courses in catering.
The Trust’s grant has not only supported the ongoing delivery of ‘Soul in a Bowl’ but is also helping to lay the groundwork for the next stage of Soul Kitchen’s vision: ‘Step 2 Soul in a Bowl’ (Second Bite). This new social-enterprise initiative will allow graduates of the initial programme to gain supported paid employment by producing shortbread biscuits for local cafés. The upgraded equipment purchased through the grant is essential in enabling this development and will play a vital role in helping participants take gentle, supported steps back into work.
Each week, Soul Kitchen also runs an open drop-in at Campbell Community Hall in Chester, offering hot meals, clothing, showers, advice and—most importantly—companionship. With the enhanced equipment now in place, the organisation is better equipped to meet increased demand and provide a consistent, dignified service.
The beneficiaries supported through this grant face a wide range of complex challenges, including mental ill-health, addiction, disability, domestic abuse, unemployment, debt, low self-esteem and experiences within the criminal justice system. The Ursula Keyes Trust’s investment in Soul Kitchen’s work is directly helping these individuals to build confidence, learn new skills and take steps towards independence.
In summary, the grant from the Ursula Keyes Trust has had a transformational impact, enabling Soul Kitchen to:
- Safely store and prepare larger quantities of fresh, nutritious food
- Improve the delivery and quality of ‘Soul in a Bowl’ sessions
- Increase capacity for participants
- Support progression routes into training, college and future employment
- Begin developing the ‘Second Bite’ social enterprise initiative
Soul Kitchen is deeply grateful for the Trust’s support, which has strengthened the foundations of their work and empowered some of the most vulnerable members of the community to move towards healthier, more hopeful futures.