The crisis of Homelessness in our country is getting worse. Often, it is the rough sleepers who are the most visible and clearly in need of the basics of food and protection against the weather. We have partnered with Newbury Soup Kitchen, a small charity making a big difference in West Berkshire to fund practical support.
We were delighted to make our first grant of £2050 to buy 15 Rough Sleepers’ Kits.
Meryl Praill their founder and Chief Executive told us about how challenging the colder months are for rough sleepers and in turn her charity to help. She has now shared with us how they tackled this huge problem in Newbury this year.
Rough sleeping continues to be one of the most urgent challenges in our community. People experiencing homelessness often face long nights exposed to the cold and rain, with very limited access to hot food or drink. At Newbury Soup Kitchen we are committed to providing both immediate relief and pathways to longer-term support ensuring that we do our best to ensure no one is left feeling alone and isolated.
Our recent initiative focuses on improving comfort and dignity for people sleeping rough. Each kit includes a tent, sleeping bag, roll mat, toiletries, a flask, a rucksack and thermals. All these packs had been distributed by the end of February.
The grant was used to ensure we could respond quickly to emerging needs. We were able to replace worn-out equipment and give warm clothes and toiletries to many of our clients.
This flexible approach meant that every pound of funding was directed to have the greatest and most immediate impact. It helped more people stay safe, warm, and supported.
This approach is one of our ongoing strategies to tackle rough sleeping in both the short and long term. Beyond immediate relief, we’re also working closely with local authorities and partner agencies to connect individuals to housing advice, healthcare, and employment opportunities.
Newbury Soup Kitchen is part of our Homeless Hub and we are confident that this is the start of a long and fruitful relationship. We are working on our next project so watch this space for more news on tackling homelessness later in 2026. The facts about homelessness in our country are truly disturbing.