Southampton homeless day centre visitors cook for themselves

Visitors to Two Saints can now prepare and cook food themselves

A homeless day centre has stopped offering clients a hot lunch made by a professional chef.

Visitors to Two Saints in Southampton are now being asked to cook for themselves in a new kitchen.

The idea is to save money but also develop people's cooking skills and build their self-esteem and confidence.

The change in provision came about after a fire last September which destroyed the centre's industrial catering kitchens.

The food is being donated to the Hampshire centre by supermarkets and members of the public.

Stacey Harbut, the centre's team leader, said: "Anybody that wants to cook can cook anything in our donations cupboard.

"At the moment, the clients are gathering together so three or four will do the cooking, a few will serve and then others will clear and wash up.

"No-one has reported going hungry, our numbers haven't decreased and we've had no complaints about the food on offer."

Stacey Harbut says the new system has been working well

Clients are supervised in the kitchen but the staff's role is hands-off to make sure clients build their confidence making food.

They can also talk to a support worker about other issues they need help with.

Ryan, who has visited the centre and cooked his own food there, studied hospitality at school.

He said he felt "proud" when people enjoyed his cooking, especially if they asked for more and there was none left. He explained that his dream would be to open this own restaurant one day.

The centre relies on donations from a local school and supermarkets but Ms Harbut worries stocks will dwindle in the winter and demand for the service increases.

"Our pantry will run low," she said, adding: "The demand for our services is increasing so we need more regular donors of everything which stocks a kitchen - tins of beans, tomatoes, vegetables, cereals - we just need to increase our stocks, even one tin would be welcome."

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