Steve Russell visits The People's Kitchen in Newcastle and discovers the incredible legacy of an indomitable North East lady.
Chances are if you stood on Northumberland Street and asked passers-by to name a local legend, it may be a while before the name Alison Kay cropped up. However, to the thousands of people who have benefitted from her fabled generosity and fortitude, that’s exactly what she is. Saddened by the lonely death of an unidentified homeless man In Exhibition Park in 1985, Alison was inspired to establish what would eventually become The People’s Kitchen, when she was already well into her 70s. Initially making a nightly soup from her own kitchen, she soon recruited fellow volunteers and what began as one woman’s kindness, quickly became a crucial source of support for the homeless and transient population of the city.
Alison Kay passed away in 2001 at the age of 91, but she lived to see her project grow exponentially from its humble origins. Fast forward another 18 years and The People’s Kitchen is now a major operation, with its own city-centre premises and an army of volunteers providing food and clothing to those in need, as current trustee David Yellowley explains: “We currently have 250 unpaid volunteers, and we have roughly 100 people per night coming in 6 days of the week. We also do outreach, with a catering van going out onto the streets on Monday and Thursday nights, for those who prefer not to come in to the kitchen. We don’t receive any government funding so we rely totally on contributions from the community.
The People’s Kitchen is now housed in a repurposed church in the shadow of St James’ Park and a visit during a dinner service soon makes it obvious that it’s a place no less iconic than its famous neighbour to its patrons. Banter and laughter reverberate around the dining hall as the food is served and it’s clear that this is somewhere people come for much more than just a hearty meal. David elaborates:
“It’s not just about food. Obviously, that’s a major part of what we do but it’s also about friendship and trying to give somebody a future. We host regular events which recently have included outdoor projects, trips to places like Lightwater Valley, as well as bingo and film nights and we even have a Shakespeare club.
Bringing The Bard to the homeless may sound like an eccentric notion, but if nothing else, it shows just how much the volunteers care about the community they serve. Their holistic, compassionate approach also includes providing trained welfare officers who offer practical advice on all manner of issues, referring people on to specific agencies and organisations where necessary. David, believes this is a vital function in the context of a system where social services aren’t always in alignment:
“There’s a lack of coordination within the city, but there’s now a new organisation called Street Zero, which is a nationally funded initiative whose aim is to end rough sleeping. Newcastle is being used as a trial city for the project so we’re working in conjunction with them. The idea is to bring all relevant agencies together – such as the police, the DWP and the city council – to achieve a more coordinated approach to the issues facing homeless people.
Undoubtedly, homelessness is a deeply complex issue, exacerbated by the emergence of cheap and easily accessible drugs such as spice and the cumulative effects of austerity. David acknowledges that there are no easy solutions, but he believes that the only hope of eradicating the problem is to rethink current social policies, and focus on a more one-to-one based approach where mentors could work intensively with individuals over the long term. Street Zero is a step in the right direction towards achieving that goal, so he remains hopeful for the future.
Providing support for the homeless is obviously at the core of what they do, but David explains that there is a wider purpose to their mission: “We’ve had research done by Northumbria University which showed that only around 12 percent of the people who come here are actually homeless, so we refer to our people as homeless and vulnerable. We get people coming here who might have somewhere to live but they might have mental health, alcohol or drug issues or just feel isolated from society, so we have an open-door policy and we don’t turn anybody away.
Speaking to some of those who benefit from this remarkable place is a humbling and emotional experience. One lady told of how it had “literally saved her life. Having grown up in care, she found herself living on the streets and felt hopeless for her future until she found The People’s Kitchen and gradually began rebuilding her life. They found her somewhere to live, provided counselling to help with her mental health issues and helped her develop her literacy skills. She is now in voluntary work and hopeful of finding paid work in the future.
As a charity with annual running costs of £135,000, support is always needed and there are plenty of ways to get involved. As well as monetary donations and sponsorship, they value professional expertise from various sectors and the Kitchen Champions’ initiative was recently launched, seeking to recruit ambassadors from major North East businesses. There is the Feed a Friend for a Fiver’ Christmas campaign and donations of catering, office and warehouse equipment, food, clothes, toiletries and gardening tools are always welcomed.
The People’s Kitchen is an amazing institution ran by amazing people. Amidst the seemingly endless vitriol surrounding the dreaded B word, it stands as an uplifting reminder of what tolerance, compassion and selfless dedication can achieve.
Further info @ www.peopleskitchen.co.uk
