The service launched as Christchurch Soup Kitchen in 2015 before evolving into a registered charity four years later. CSK now operates from Bargates, where it helps provide not only hot food and toiletries as well as help for people filling out housing applications.
The team of 25 volunteers work hard to make life as comfortable as possible for the most vulnerable members of society by maintaining a welcoming environment.
Claire Wade has volunteered for the service for years and called chair of the trustees Sarah McCowliff “incredible” for establishing the charity alongside other community players.
Claire said: “We like to build up trust with people over the weeks, but we must work hard to do that and get people where they need to be.
Christmas is the period that the team enjoys the most. With a proper sit-down meal featuring crackers, Christmas lights and small gifts, times like the festive season evoke the community spirit that CSK tries to foster.
Claire remarked that Easter was much the same. “Something as small as a £1 Easter egg has the power to make a 40-year-old man smile,” she said.
Everything that CSK is doing is funded by community donations. Support from the public has given the service sleeping bags, clothing and long-life food. Despite this, CSK are keen not to overlap with already existing services like food banks around BCP.
Instead, they provide what is lacking in the community. This includes home-cooked food from environmental health certified cooks, who Claire said bring: “Not fine dining, but high standards because you have to keep the people feeling happy and loved.”
She said the community has been incredible with raising supplies and that any calls for help have been followed by masses of support.
“You put the word out,” Claire said. “And the support comes.”
Even creating a new logo requires fundraising, which is why Cabin is spelt with a K – so money that would otherwise go to a redesign can contribute to more important causes within the charity.
To support the charity, you can visit the Christchurch Support Kabin website or Facebook to help in any way you can.