Hairy Biker Si calls on public to bake cakes and help the homeless at Christmas

Reporter TELEVISION’S Hairy Biker Si King has told of his pride in a local charity that is helping the needy this Christmas.

Every year, hundreds of vulnerable and homeless people in Newcastle face having to go without having hot meals.

Cold and hungry, many spend their days and nights on the streets not knowing where to turn.

That’s where The People’s Kitchen, who has been helping people in the city for 30 years, comes in.

The charity has launched its #foodforthought campaign, which is hoping to raise £15,000 during the run up to Christmas.

With the support of its patron and celebrity chef Si, it is encouraging families to bake and sell cakes, with the cash helping to feed some of the city’s most vulnerable people.

Si – one half of TV’s The Hairy Bikers – has shared his recipes for Madeira cake, chocolate brownies and a Croquembouche to get people into the kitchen to support the cause.

“At The People’s Kitchen we stand for food, friendship and futures,” he said.

“Christmas is a time when all three of these become even more important and now everyone has a chance to have fun baking a cake and making a real difference to the quality of life for someone.

“It’s not just about feeding people, it’s about giving people a helping hand and setting them off on a fruitful and joyous life.

“We want people to get together with family, work colleagues or the larger community, talk about The People’s Kitchen, think about their good work and raffle or auction your cake. Si King “It’s a fun thing to do and you will make a real difference.” The online voucher website, NEOffers.co.uk, is backing the campaign and every £5 donation buys a three-course Christmas dinner for someone in need. Chris Tubman, of NEOffers.co. uk, has been helping The People’s Kitchen for the past two years and last year raised £8,000. He said: “I started helping two years ago and I’ve always tried to do what I can for the friends of The People’s Kitchen as I feel that no one is immune from becoming homeless. “All it takes is a certain set of circumstances to be against you. This year we are looking to raise an ambitious £15,000 as part of the food for thought campaign.” Newcastlebased company, The Roundhouse, has also donated its time to help support the cause. To find out more about the campaign, visit www.peopleskitchen. co.uk/food-for- thought or www.neoffers.co.uk/products/ homeless-christmas-newcastle.