Hull soup kitchen volunteers want city centre space
ROOM NEEDED FOR SUPPLIES
SOUP kitchens in Hull have united to seek a Hull city centre indoor space to store supplies and feed the homeless.
Karina Wilkinson runs Reaching Out To The Homeless and together with other soup kitchens, including Ladled with Love and Hull Homeless Outreach, is seeking an indoor space to help feed Hull’s rough sleepers from.
Currently, all of Hull’s soup kitchens offer meals in two main outdoor settings, at Queen’s Gardens and in the churchyard of St Mary’s in Lowgate.
In recent weeks, she has taken up the issue and other homeless matters with both Hull City Council and an MP.
Karina Wilkinson has run Reaching Out To The Homeless with her family, including her sister and daughters, since this summer. Previously, the soup kitchen was run by her ex-husband David Hames, who died in late April.
“I’ve come in with a fresh pair of eyes,” said Karina Wilkinson, who was not involved before Mr Hames’ death.
She and other soup kitchen leaders want an indoor space in a central location in Hull to be able to provide food to the mixture of rough sleepers and people from hostels who seek their help.
Currently, Hull’s soup kitchens provide food at two main outdoor locations in the city centre - Queen’s Gardens and the churchyard at St Mary’s in Lowgate.
“It’s not only that issue, but it’s also the storage of sleeping bags, clothes and the like.
“If it actually meant we could all put all this in one space, then it’s more accessible than it being stuck in our houses when we’re transporting it there, transporting it back, trying to get everything in to transport it.”
Karina Wilkinson has been in contact with the council about seeking help for a permanent indoor space for the soup kitchens in Hull city centre since October and has highlighted a passage from the council’s 2017-2021 Hull homelessness strategy.
In the strategy, one of the council’s stated objectives is to “explore options for developing a day centre in Hull”.
A day centre is a facility where the homeless can access during the day for basic needs, such as food, clothing and laundry.
Most also provide advice on issues such as housing and benefits.
A Hull City Council spokeswoman said: “We are in regular discussions with Ms Wilkinson to explore the issues she raises.”
“We all work separate nights,” said Karina Wilkinson of Hull’s soup kitchens and how an indoor facility would benefit them all.
“There’s only one soup kitchen that doesn’t run every week and that’s on a Saturday night, but I’ve already said I’m willing to take that on.”
She added that Reaching Out To The Homeless volunteers went on a sponsored street sleep-out in Hull city centre in late September.
“People spoke to us like you would not believe, it was horrendous, because they actually thought we were homeless. And we were getting abused in the street.”
Karina Wilkinson and three other soup kitchen volunteers also met Emma Hardy MP on November 5 to discuss homelessness in Hull and seeking a permanent indoor space.
The MP for Hull West and Hessle subsequently wrote on November 11 to Hull City Council’s chief executive, Matt Jukes, about the issue and said in the letter: “I would be extremely grateful if consideration can be given to Ms Wilkinson’s concerns and any support that can be provided in allowing my constituent and her fellow volunteers a building from which to run the vital service that they provide to the vulnerable homeless community.”
The soup kitchens will continue to offer food to rough sleepers through the winter and Ms Wilkinson said plans had already been made for Christmas Day meals to provide the homeless.
However, as things stand, the soup kitchens will continue to provide their service in the outdoors, including on Christmas Day.