‘Homeless people knock on our door every day’

“We'd love to get to a time when when there isn't a need to have a soup kitchen,” says Kathryn Stevens

A soup kitchen originally set up temporarily last winter, but a year later demands for its services is greater than ever.

Swan Bank Methodist Church, in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, started by offering local homeless people pot noodles and hot drinks, in November 2024.

Now, thanks to public donations and a committed team of volunteers, the operation has grown to serve up to 100 people a week with two hot meals, packed lunches, a clothes bank and the use of shower facilities.

“We're only supposed to be doing it for a season,” admitted minister Kathryn Stevens, “But then the need continues, doesn't it?”

“Just because the weather might get a little bit better. People are still hungry, people are still struggling,” she added.

Rebecca Griffiths has been homeless since early September and said the Monday and Thursday sessions are always busy

Church member Keith Dubbs first suggested the idea to support people struggling in Burslem, having seen rough sleepers regularly asking the church for a hot drink.

“Imagine sleeping on the streets tonight? We’ve just got to do our bit,” Mr Dubbs said.

The facility is open to anyone struggling financially, but rough sleepers make up the majority of guests attending the Monday and Thursday brunches, with the initial plan to close last March.

“But, it became really clear that this need was 365 days a year,” he said, “Why would we be closing at the end of March?”

The volunteers were very keen to continue, expand the initiative and work alongside support agencies, like Brighter Futures.

'Hard work but it’s rewarding'

Shane Khosa, one of the volunteers, who also runs nearby restaurant Dirty Diner, rustles up full cooked breakfasts for hungry vulnerable people, as well as his own customers.

He is pleased to have joined the friendly community of service users and volunteers, but would like to see the government offer more support.

“Mental health solutions, CV workshops and basically integrating people back into society as normal people”, are his suggestions to ministers.

Mr Khosa said he was not surprised by the demand for the soup kitchen given the number of homeless people he had seen in Stoke-on-Trent

Reflecting on the last year, Ms Stevens said it was important for everyone to be aware of homelessness and its complexities.

“We meet some of the nicest people who've just had such a hard start in life and end up on a trajectory that's just not life-giving for them,” she said.

"We have our homeless community knocking on the door every day for help."

Any willing volunteers or donors are encouraged to contact the church.