My vegan soup kitchen
The Norwich Soup Movement serves free plant-based comfort food
A lover of all-things punk and Ainsley Harriott, founder Chip launched the vegan food bank and street soup kitchen, The Norwich Soup Movement, in 2013 to oer more substantial home-cooked meals to anyone who couldn’t aord food.
‘When I started volunteering, I didn’t think the food we served was a suitable portion for someone eating for the first time that day,’ Chip says. ‘Serving a mug of instant soup as an evening meal and arriving home to my well-stocked fridge felt worse than not volunteering at all.’
Hoping to start her own soup kitchen, Chip used social media to find people willing to cook free meals in their own homes. ‘We make sure everyone gets a hot main, dessert, and sandwich or pastry to take away. Some of my popular plant-based dishes are coconut & peanut curry, cauliflower mac & cheese, and a roast dinner with Good Food’s vegan Yorkshire puddings (find the recipe on bbcgoodfood.com).’
She continues, ‘Everyone is welcome. We help rough sleepers, but even people with homes have had to eat with us because they can’t aord to put food on the table. You don’t need vouchers for the food bank – I don’t believe in having to prove your poverty. Nobody should have to jump through hoops to eat.’
Chip plans to launch a community allotment, so there’s fresh veg at the foodbank. ‘I wouldn’t be allowed to take part on account of my inability to even grow cress on a windowsill,’ she laughs. ‘I think for now though, we have to buckle down and navigate the dicult time ahead as we wait for the fallout from benefits cuts, food price and fuel increases. It won’t be easy, but we’re not going anywhere.’ Words: Marianne Voyle