The Community Kitchen operates onsite Thursdays 7pm - 8pm and Sundays 5pm - 6pm for a sit down hot meal. Takeaways are possible.
On request, the Community Kitchen also delivers food to where you are! We can also supply other food for you to collect - 07868 837460
THE STORY
Muswell Hill Soup Kitchen started in February 1994 in response to several people asking for food following the worship services at the Baptist Church. It is still based and administered here and supported by several local churches, other faith groups and the wider community.
The 2020 pandemic brought about a big change as the Soup Kitchen moved both outside and further afield into a Takeaway and Delivery outreach (it also meets on site on Thursdays and Sundays as above). We are so very grateful for the generosity of so many within the community in response to our appeal for funding for a van. Thank you so much!!
who do we help?
We are available to all who need our free meals. Some of our clients are homeless but many, including families, have other needs that cause them to value free hot, wholesome food.
how can you help?
We are very grateful to the many organisations, schools and individuals that support this outreach. Maybe you can help too?
DONATE: We can use most food that is safe to eat so contact us if you can donate some (though please don't leave food at our doors anonymously as we have to throw it away if we cannot verify its origin). We are not a food bank but can often find ways of giving out food we cannot use. We can sometimes do the same with clothes (clean and in good condition) and basic toiletries - contact us first to check that we can use your gift.
Financial donations to the Soup Kitchen are ring-fenced for that work and not used for any other church use. Where gift-aided the gift aid returns are also ring-fenced. You can give online at Peoplesfundraising - (CLICK HERE)
NETWORK: If you can tell people about us that helps too. Mention us when you meet friends and business colleagues or share links from the soup kitchen's Facebook page.
VOLUNTEER: If you think that can help in any way please contact us at soupkitchen@mhbc.org.uk. Opportunities for volunteering are fewer under new ways of working off-site, but they do and will change from time to time.
Housing advice helpline
Shelter provides a free, national telephone advice line staffed by trained housing advisers. They have helped thousands of people, from finding them a place to sleep to suggesting how to handle mortgage arrears.
Ring 0808 800 4444
8am-8pm Monday-Friday
8am-5pm Saturday-Sunday
Calls are free from UK landlines and main mobile networks.
They will answer your call as quickly as they can and treat it confidentially. The helpline gets very busy at times, but please keep trying. Calls are recorded for training purposes.
Their advisers can:
give you immediate, practical assistance explain your rights, offer advice and guidance
suggest specialist or local support services to help you longer term.
Streetlink (and Thames reach)
Streetlink helps rough sleepers off the streets and into accommodation.
If you are concerned about someone sleeping rough, you can call them on 0300 500 0914. This is far better than contacting local churches and charities which have more limited hours and capacity to help.
Streetlink provide immediate help 24/7. Thames Reach provide general and comprehensive support and advice, CLICK HERE for the web link.