200 STRONG VOLUNTEER GROUPKITCHEN TIMES ISSUE 16 / SUMMER 2018

200 STRONG VOLUNTEER GROUPKITCHEN TIMES ISSUE 16 / SUMMER 2018

200 STRONG VOLUNTEER GROUPKITCHEN TIMES ISSUE 16 / SUMMER 2018

200 STRONG VOLUNTEER GROUPKITCHEN TIMES ISSUE 16 / SUMMER 2018

KITCHEN TIMES / ISSUE 16 / SUMMER 20185 www.peopleskitchen.co.uk 6

Founded in 1985, The People’s Kitchen has served an average of 40,000 hot meals each year to the city’s homeless and disadvantaged population from its welcoming base in Newcastle. Due to a variety of personal reasons however, some people feel uncomfortable eating inside a building so an outreach team takes hot food and drink out onto the streets three times per week.Serving more than 9000 meals on the streets of Newcastle each year is no easy task and a team of dedicated volunteers ensures that piping hot food is always available at Trafalgar Street on a Monday and Thursday evening as well as Sunday’ mornings at Old Eldon Square where porridge, a full English breakfast and hot drinks are served.

For the past 10 years, the outreach team has relied on their current catering van to transport the food to where it is needed most and to keep food warm and drinks hot no matter what the weather may bring.

Now however that service is at risk as due to a succession of costly vehicle repairs, the catering van’s life is nearing an end.

The catering van is an essential lifeline to those vulnerable people who are unable to, or prefer not to go to The People’s Kitchen, a fact that worries volunteer Maureen Armstrong.

“Sadly, not everyone feels confident enough to mix with other people at the kitchen while some dislike being inside a building as they feel much safer outdoors in an environment that they feel secure in. It’s hard for many people to understand this but that is why we provide the outreach service three times a week.”

“As the vehicle is becoming more and more unreliable, there is a real danger that some of our friends will not get the hot food they need. We have alternative arrangements in place in case this happens including flasks of hot drinks and sandwiches but it’s no substitute for what may be someone’s only hot meal of the day.”

The People’s Kitchen have launched a new text and online donation campaign to raise enough money to buy a new catering van and they are hoping that the generous people of the north east will support them as they have done in the past.

Donating to The People’s Kitchen is now easier than ever before thanks to the technology offered by Jesmond based technology firm, donr. The option of mobile billing allows supporters to donate securely in just a few clicks. The donation amount is then simply added to their mobile bill at the end of the month.

Further to this, donr also offers the option for donations from both Apple Pay and Google Pay, as well as via credit and debit card. All options are fully integrated into The People’s Kitchen donr crowdfunding page – both on desktop and mobile at https://donr.com/peoples-kitchen

“We need to find more than £50,000 for the new catering van and we can’t do it without the help of the people of the north east. The van is a welcome sight to our friends and to some it is the difference between eating and going without,” said Maureen.

THE VAN IS A WELCOME SIGHT TO OUR FRIENDS AND TO SOME IT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EATING AND GOING WITHOUT”

LIFELINE AT RISK FOR CITY’S HOMELESS

Welcome to The People’s Kitchen summer newsletter. What a summer it has been! The support of the local community never ceases to amaze us. It is heartwarming to see people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds recognising and supporting vulnerable people in our community.

Already this year the Pakistani community put on a curry night for our Friends, Newcastle Young Professionals got together for a football fundraiser, and kids and adults alike celebrated Tesco’s sponsorship of The People’s Kitchen at a Family Fun Day. It’s a prime example that our community, beautiful in its diversity, is full of kindness, respect and genuine concern for one another. In this edition you will find out about our exciting new crowdfunding campaign, take a look inside the clothing store at The People’s Kitchen and learn more about what our Friends, volunteers and supporters have been up to.

Thank you for your continued interest and support that makes the work of The People’s Kitchen possible.

Lauren Summers, Editor

KITCHEN TIMES ISSUE 16 / SUMMER 2018

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www.peopleskitchen.co.uk 87

IT’S AS EASY AS 123STEP 1.

FIND Sign in to your Amazon account Click on ‘your lists’ and ‘find a list Type The People’s Kitchen in the box, click search

STEP 2.

GIVE Select a gift from the list Click add to basket The People’s Kitchen will receive the delivery directly

STEP 3.

REMEMBER Click ‘remember’ on the left hand side of the screen The People’s Kitchen will then be added to you lists for future gifts

Buy from the Amazon Wish List Our Amazon Wish List consists of items that do not

often get donated such as trainers, underwear and sleeping bags. Anyone can donate by purchasing an item from this list; your gift will be sent directly to the Kitchen and you can rest assured that your donation will make a difference to the life of someone in your community. This year over £1,000 worth of items have been donated, helping over 100 Friends. To donate, visit the Wish List section on Amazon.com and search for The People’s Kitchen.

Donate your old clothes Are you due a wardrobe clear out? You can donate

old clothes (men’s and and women’s) by simply dropping them off on our doorstep! They will then be sorted and given out to Friends.

Spread the word! Share our social media posts about the Wish List

to let others know what our Friends need and how their donation can make a difference.

HOW YOU CAN HELP?

AMAZON WISH LIST

THEY APPRECIATE THE FOOD, THE CLOTHING, THE COMPANY AND EVERYTHING ABOUT THE PEOPLE’S KITCHEN.”

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While we may be throwing the duvet off the bed during these hot summer nights, it’s easy to forget that people in and around our city struggle to keep warm through the night. Many of our Friends need more than a hot meal in their belly, and The People’s Kitchen has a clothing store which holds a range of donated clothing; either second-hand or purchased new from the Amazon Wish List. Essentials are available any time Friends come for a meal, and clothing store volunteers set up twice a week in the Kitchen to give Friends a full service.

Barbara, a dedicated volunteer from the clothing store, explains:

“The clothing store distributes clothes, footwear and sleeping bags on Tuesday evenings and Thursday afternoons from the Kitchen, and also at Outreach and other sessions. As well as clothes, we give out large bags of toiletries which Friends are always delighted to receive. We have an open door policy, aiming to meet the needs of whoever comes through the door.”

Many Friends arrive with only the clothes they stand up in. Providing there is stock, volunteers ensure they have socks, boxer shorts, joggers/jeans, t-shirts, jumpers/hoodies, a coat and, whenever possible, trainers, although these are always in short supply. Friends also often need either a rucksack or holdall to carry their belongings.

Barbara adds: “Quite often, Friends’ belongings are stolen while they sleep because they have no place to store them. It’s heartbreaking to think someone would steal from such vulnerable people.

“Some of the Friends have had extremely difficult upbringings and it is rewarding to be able to chat with them; they quite often open up about their lives and tell me how they came to be in this situation.

“For some, being homeless can also mean having to wear the same clothes for long periods of time and never being able to take their trainers off for fear of them being stolen. This can result in athlete’s foot or Trench foot, which is one of the reasons we like to give them fresh socks each week.

“Being able to take a shower is much appreciated by the homeless, as for some it is the only time in the week they have access to running water. Most Friends love a hug as it can sometimes be the only affection they receive. We treat each other with mutual respect and gratitude, and their manners are almost always impeccable.

“They appreciate the food, the clothing, the company and everything about The People’s Kitchen. It is a gem in the heart of our wonderful city, made possible by the generosity of people far and wide giving their time and money.”

KITCHEN TIMES / ISSUE 16 / SUMMER 20189 www.peopleskitchen.co.uk 10

SLEEPING ROUGHCEO Sleepout is a charity set up to tackle homelessness and poverty. Through the initiative, big hearted business and community leaders pledge to sleep outdoors for one night to raise awareness and sponsorship from their business contacts and friends. The money raised goes to local charities that support people experiencing homelessness.CEO Sleepout has generously supported The People’s Kitchen in the past, and this year local business leaders Sandra and Kevin, who are also volunteers at the Kitchen, took part by spending a very cold and sleepless night at Durham Cathedral.

Sandra shared her thoughts after the event: “A number of our Friends sleep rough and endure some pretty horrific conditions (the cold being the least of their worries, particularly for the females).

“I wanted to be able to look them in the eyes and say that I had a tiny fraction of understanding of what they were going through, to raise awareness with my friends and work colleagues and, most of all, raise vital cash, over £6,000 of which my two colleagues and I managed to raise.”

I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO LOOK THEM IN THE EYES AND SAY THAT I HAD A TINY FRACTION OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY WERE GOING THROUGH”

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The warmth and creativity within The People’s Kitchen community is inspiring. A Friend, Anthony King (AKA Fuse), went to night school to improve his reading and writing. He took to creative writing and having this outlet helped him overcome self-harming. As a gift to the Kitchen, Anthony wrote a poem:

See a Friend Not a Homeless Personyes there are a lot homeless maybe, we could begin to see them with opened eyes

stop and talk to them you may find a friend you never knew before

if you ask you may find out about my life

moving on day and night coppers don’t like us you see we’re homeless not something you should see

but if you ask me i’m just a person just like you ok I don’t have a home

but I feel, I cry and I have dreams just like you

so please please open your eyes and see a friend not a homeless person

MORE IN STORE FOLLOWING TESCO PARTNERSHIP

WRITING A BRIGHTER FUTURE

The People’s Kitchen is delighted to have been made Tesco’s charity partner, as voted for by their employees. Tesco expects to raise a whopping £40,000 from employee-led fundraising initiatives to support the Kitchen over the course of the two year partnership. As well as raising money, the partnership will see Tesco employees joining the Kitchen team as volunteers, preparing and serving meals.

The partnership is underway and to say thank you for their support, a Family Fun Day was held for employees on a sunny Saturday in July. Flipping burgers in the sunshine, The People’s Kitchen volunteers catered for the event.

We caught up with Andrew, Employee Engagement Consultant on the day:

Q. WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF TODAY’S EVENT?A. Tesco Underwriting and Tesco Bank are working

together on a fantastic initiative to support local causes in the North East and today is an event to say thank you to colleagues for all their support. It’s the first time both businesses have combined to work with a charity partner. It’s a fantastic opportunity.

Q. TELL US ABOUT TESCO’S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PEOPLE’S KITCHEN?A. Tackling homelessness is something our colleagues

are very passionate about. Tesco employees really want to get behind the cause and make a difference.”

Q. WHAT HAVE EMPLOYEES BEEN DOING TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE’S KITCHEN?A. Employees have been finding opportunities to raise

money through the likes of cake sales and the World Cup, as well as volunteering at The People’s Kitchen. A lot of our staff understand what The People’s Kitchen is and what it’s about, but seeing the work that’s involved has really spurred us on and is inspiring our people to get more involved. It’s already going well and we’re excited for more to come over the two-year partnership.

PAUL GNRFriday volunteer Paul is taking on the brave challenge of the Great North Run in September. Having started running initially to lose weight, Paul got hooked and has secured a spot in Newcastle’s flagship half marathon, raising money for much needed staple items for The People’s Kitchen. To find out more and to donate, check out Paul’s Just Giving page:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ great-north-run-peoples-kitchen-2018

SCHOOL COLLECTIONSchools, churches and community groups provide a great deal of support for The People’s Kitchen, and this summer we had the pleasure of meeting students from St Agnes’ R C Primary School in Newcastle, where they have been working hard to collect food donations for homeless and vulnerable people in our city. Visiting on a Tuesday afternoon, the students had a tour of the Kitchen and met the volunteers preparing the evening meal, seeing first-hand how their donations will be used.

STRONG DEFENCE AT HAY & KILNER FIVE-A-SIDEHosted by Hay & Kilner Law Firm, the inaugural Charity Shield competition in May saw 15 mixed five-a-side teams battle it out for victory in an initiative to raise money and awareness for The People’s Kitchen.

The event was run by and for members of the Newcastle Young Professionals Forum, and brought about intense competition! Representing the Kitchen, our most athletic volunteers tried their chances. Although we didn’t win the football, the £1,500 raised on the day is a great achievement by all involved

CURRY AND CULTURE Courtesy of the Pakistan Muslim Association (PMA), representatives from the Bilal Jamia Masjid (Newcastle Central Mosque) based at Malvern Street cooked up a fantastic curry for our Friends in June.

Recognising homelessness in Newcastle, the PMA wanted to do something on a local level, showing care and support for the wider community as well as their own well-established Muslim community. This was held during the month of Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (Sawm).

One of the five pillars of Islam, charity is very important, and even more so during Ramadan. The food was prepared and served by Geordie Pakistanis and our Friends had a fabulous feast. We plan to make this an annual event.

A big thanks to everyone involved!

VIA PAYPALDonating via PayPal is quick and easy – you don’t even need a PayPal Account, just a valid email address.

VIA TEXT MESSAGEYou can now make a donation to The People’s Kitchen from your mobile phone via JustTextGiving. Send a message to 70070 which includes our code KTCH11, the amount you want to give (£1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10) and your name or reference so that we can identify the donor.

For example – to donate £15 send the message KTCH11£15 to 70070.

SEND A CHEQUEThe easiest way to make a donation is simply to write a cheque payable to The People’s Kitchen Ltd and send it back to us or drop it into the Alison Centre. Please download and complete either an Individual Donation form or a Group Donation form and send it with your cheque.

REGULAR DONATIONSRegular support to The People’s Kitchen is the best way of ensuring that we can continue our vital services and plan for the future. You can do this by setting up a Standing Order with your bank using our Standing Order form or you could consider making a tax free donation through your work, using a Payroll Giving form.

GIFT AIDUsing Gift Aid means that for every pound you give, we get an extra 25p from the Inland Revenue. This means that £10 from you can be turned into £12.50 for us at no cost to you.

GIVE IN MEMORY OF A LOVED ONERather than sending flowers in memory of a loved one, families and friends sometimes like to make donations to a charity. We will record gifts received in this way in our ‘In Memoriam’ book.

For advice or further information please call 0191 222 0699

MAKE A DONATIONThere are many ways to make a donation to The People’s Kitchen:

VOLUNTEERThe People’s Kitchen has transformed thousands of lives but this work would be impossible without the work of the charity’s volunteers. Our team of volunteers are like a large family, all working towards a common goal – to grow, collect, prepare and serve some 40,000 hot meals per year. We are in need of a number of specific roles at the moment, can you help?

CURRENT VACANCIES 2 Operations managers

3 Monday outreach

5 Events team

2 Welfare co-ordinators for Thursday afternoons

1 Thursday afternoon food server

For further details contact dean.auld@peopleskitchen.co.uk or visit our website at www.peopleskitchen.co.uk

KITCHEN TIMES / ISSUE 16 / SUMMER 201811

If you would like to support The People’s Kitchen, please complete this form and send it to:The People’s Kitchen, The Alison Centre, 56 Bath Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5SQ

VOLUNTEERING (see our application on the website)

DONATION (return this slip and cheque in an envelope)

GIFT AID (request application from our office)

REQUEST A VISIT (from a People’s Kitchen Volunteer)

LEGACY (complete details below and we will contact you)

Name:

Address:

Postcode:

Telephone Number:

Email:

Registered Charity Number: 1036149

RAISE FUNDS BY SHOPPING ONLINEDid you know by shopping through easyfundraising.org.uk when shopping online you will raise funds for us at no extra expense to you?Most major retailers, hotel booking sites, insurance companies etc... donate. Don’t forget to go through the easy fundraising site first, then choose The People’s Kitchen and then continue as usual to shop.

THE PEOPLE’S KITCHEN The Alison Centre, 56 Bath Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5SQCALL US:0191 222 0699VISIT US ONLINE: www.peopleskitchen.co.ukEMAIL US: info@peopleskitchen.co.ukFOLLOW US:

@PKnewcastleLIKE US:

/PKnewcastle

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