Brixton Soup Kitchen braces for a busy Christmas season
By Helen Drew
Politics London
As the Christmas period approaches, Brixton Soup Kitchen is busier than ever. Founded more than a decade ago to feed homeless people, the charity today welcomes anyone who cannot afford a meal.
Solomon Smith started the charity with money he earned as a youth worker after struggling to secure funding for the project.
He began helping others after seeing poverty among his peers during childhood. He recalled: “We were served hot meals every day. It wasn’t until I visited a friend’s house that I truly understood poverty. I realised that if they didn’t go out and steal, they might not be eating.”
Each month the kitchen prepares nearly 7,000 meals, and demand remains consistently high.
On 21 December, volunteers will not only distribute food but also provide toys for local children.
Volunteer Jennifer Wilson grew up on the same council estate as Mr. Smith and has known him since she was 10. She said: “There were children who didn’t receive Christmas presents, and it always felt unusual.
“This program helps ensure every child has a present to open.”
Ms. Wilson noted that the charity also creates discreet hampers for those in need. “Parents will contact me or Solomon, and we deliver a Christmas dinner to the doorstep,” she said. “We tell the parent that it’s there, and the child doesn’t know it came from a soup kitchen, because some parents feel embarrassed.”
She added that food hampers are distributed to all service users to help them feel valued and cared for.
Elijah Augustus, a visitor to the soup kitchen, described it as a “lifeline.”
“It empowers you and gives you strength,” he said.
Another visitor, Balasubramanian Sathiabaskaran, said he has high blood pressure and saves half of his meal for later so he has something to eat in the evening.
Mr. Smith explained that the charity was established after witnessing the “trauma of growing up” among his peers, including instances of stealing for food or clothing.
“I was fortunate to have both my mum and dad at home, while many of my friends didn’t,” he said. “If they didn’t steal school uniforms from Woolworths, they’d start the new school year wearing last year’s uniform.”
The original aim of Brixton Soup Kitchen was to feed people who were rough sleepers, but it now supports anyone in need. “We were hearing from people who’d secured a home yet were still struggling,” Mr. Smith noted. “Lots of young people said they were ‘sofa surfing,’ elderly residents felt lonely, and single parents faced hardship.”
The charity serves about 200 people daily, sourcing food from local shops, supermarket chains, and numerous private donations.
The kitchen will remain open on Christmas Day until the Christmas dinner runs out.
Politics London
30 March 2025
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