HOW IT BEGAN

HOPING York Street Kitchen (‘HOPING’) began as a grassroots organisation of volunteers in 2016, operating from King’s Square in York and provided hot meals and essential items to the homeless community in York. At that time the numbers of homeless people were increasing rapidly and there were sadly a number of deaths in York and many across the nation. During the Covid pandemic, meals were supplied to people housed in hotels and food parcels delivered to households in need.

In 2021 the kitchen moved to a new venue offered by the University of York – the beautiful, private, yet accessible garden of King’s Manor. This venue will shortly be taken over by St Johns University, who have kindly given us permission to remain.

We now have over 40 volunteer home cooks, all of whom are regularly inspected by York City Council and given a food hygiene rating (all have 5 stars!). Our volunteers cook their choice of meals fresh and transport them to our pop up kitchen where they are kept at temperature on our 10 burners. This means most of our meals are suitable to be given as take-aways to be refrigerated/frozen and safely reheated on other days.

We became a registered charity in 2023 with five trustees.

Nigel Taylor

Following 53 years working in York City Centre, during which time I saw for myself the poverty and distress of so many unfortunate people on the streets, I vowed to do whatever I could to help to relieve this social issue. After speaking to Helen Meadows, I knew immediately that HOPING was the ideal Charity to become involved with.

I’m not a regular face at the Sunday kitchen but I try to chip in by doing some of the Charity Commission and accounting work and also by distributing groceries to households throughout York, where the recipients have difficulties in helping themselves. I am immensely proud to be part of this fantastic charity and hope to continue for many years to come.

Helen Meadows

I joined HOPING York Street Kitchen in 2018 shortly after it was set up, and became Chair of Trustees when it became a registered charity in 2023.

HOPING means different things to different people. For some it is a vital food service. For others a safe place of community and friendship. For our volunteers it is a wonderful way to give back to the community and show love and compassion through good food and a warm welcome. It really is a special place with special people.