L
ife is expensive…I’ve done the math. I am currently two bad decisions (at most) or a bit of bad luck away from being homeless.
Real talk, homelessness is no joke. It shows no mercy and does not discriminate.
Brixton Soup Kitchen (BSK) is a community space for the homeless, vulnerable or anyone in desperate need. The soup kitchen aspires to provide food, drink and companionship in a warm and friendly environment. Key emphasis on the term “warm”.
Solomon Smith, the founder of Brixton Soup Kitchen, couldn’t comprehend why anyone would be hungry and need to beg for food, when shops were full of it and even throwing edible food away. He saw a need, faced this issue head on, and decided to do something about it. He started out small, buying biscuits... anything he could afford, and just handed them out.
Then winter came around, and biscuits just wouldn’t cut it anymore. He then had an epiphany. “SOUP!” Soup ingredients are cheap, can be made in a big batch, and will keep people warm. He then started distributing out of his own car. The more he made, the more he noticed the magnitude of what was needed.
Making food at BSK's kitchen CV writing skills
In 2009, they were given a property. The previous occupants had had their meter removed due to non- payment. This meant, during the winter months, a mass of fan heaters were plugged in.
Fan heaters will use about 2 kWh of energy per hour. At 18.42p per day unit x 5hrs per day = an additional £1.84 per fan heater per day! £57 per heater, per month on top of their normal bill. For a place that relies purely on volunteers, operational costs need to be kept to a minimum. BSK would be hit with a massive post-winter electric bill for just trying to keep people warm during these cold months.
BSK has been trying to get the gas back on for years, but weren’t sure how – not to mention the upfront costs.
So, we at Total gas & Power decided to help. Thanks to Cherrelle McLean and Luis Padron in Redhill, we were able to get a meter supplied from SMS and site works arranged. Thanks to Kevin Thimm and Victoria Lowe in Leeds, we were able to get BSK contracted, and finally WNS have confirmed the meter into our supply and are currently servicing. From Redhill to Leeds and now over to Cape Town… One Total, One Team!
Here’s what BSK had to say: "We would like to say a massive thank you to Total Gas & Power for helping us get heating this cold winter. We are so thankful that you guys have decided to help out the homeless and the soup kitchen and keep the homeless and vulnerable warm. We will be bringing our electricity over in the New Year. Thank you, thank you so much.”
Rob Kerr, Operations Director said “This is a fantastic example of how in doing our job really well, we can also give back to the community. This truly demonstrates so many of our values as an organisation. Homelessness is a real issue for our country and so I am grateful to all the people involved, who through their combined efforts have supported the continued work of this charity”.
Homelessness is a problem all year round, not just at Christmas time. If you’d like to get involved, please visit https://brixtonsoupkitchen.org/get-involved/
Take care everyone.
