We are a food charity in York serving delicious, home cooked two-course meals to the homeless and anyone in need of food or company. We operate as a pop up restaurant in the beautiful grounds of King’s Manor, every Sunday 2.30-4pm and provide toiletries, thermal essentials, pet food, support, signposting, community and a non-judgmental welcome to all.
Charity Number: 1203571
BBC Food & Farming Awards 2025 Finalists: Best Street Food, Takeaway or Small Eatery
Our outdoor pop up kitchen runs every Sunday, 2.30-4pm, in all weathers! We serve a wide variety of nourishing, savoury, hot meals and delicious, comforting desserts, with the option to take extra freshly cooked meals home, if that is an option, to refrigerate or freeze.
Our pop up kitchen also has a 5 star food hygiene rating.
We also provide toiletries, thermal accessories, bedding and pet food. In season, we have lots of fresh fruit and vegetables donated from local allotments.
Midweek, we collect groceries from Morrisons, Foss Islands, to distribute to households in York who may not be able to access our Sunday kitchen and are in need.
When we first began, around 30 people would come to the kitchen. At the time of writing, over a 100 vulnerable people dine each Sunday, from a choice of 13 main dishes, a fresh omelette option, and the choice of around 10 desserts. In all, around 300 two-course meals are served each week.
We liaise with other services in York to work cooperatively to alleviate hardship. This includes grassroots food banks, the York Foodbank , and other organizations supporting the homeless and refugees.
Over the years our service has widened. Bookcase For All joins us fortnightly to provide entertainment and education through reading, we provide support for newly arrived refugees who are struggling, and we have also helped many struggling with transport to secure a serviced, second-hand bike, with the help of Cycle Heaven.
We advocate for our diners on a range of issues, like tenancy or medical problems. Our campaigning covers homelessness and poverty issues and we aim to give our vulnerable diners a voice by engaging with local MPs, Mayors, CYC officials and councillors at the kitchen.
At its heart, HOPING is a group of caring volunteers, who through supplying home cooked food, spend a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon chatting to those who are homeless, isolated, in need and vulnerable. We listen without judgement. All our welcome at HOPING.
All are welcome to come to the kitchen for a meal and company, without question or challenge, and no voucher is required. If you are struggling to provide a hot, home cooked meal for yourself or your family, or you would like some company and a listening ear, then you are welcome.
You are allowed 2 mains and 2 desserts initially per person, with the option for additional meals nearing the end of service if everyone has been served.
img count