Southend charity kitchen set to ‘get people out of homelessness’ opens

The St Vincent’s Centre in Short Street, Southend, supports homeless and vulnerable people living in the city. It provides food, clothing, and support for both mental and physical health.

Councillor Stephen Habermel cut the ceremonial ribbon. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Now, its new kitchen will also allow volunteers and service users to learn professional cookery skills.

Daniel (right) with volunteers and former service users Dean Massey, Danny Fogg and Kathleen Love. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Mayor Stephen Habermel praised the charity for its “vital” work on Wednesday.

He said: “St Vincent’s does an amazing amount for the homeless people in Southend. The kitchen has been coming for a long time and it enables them to do so much more.”

The charity already serves 630 meals per week, from its “kindness kitchen”.

Celebrating - Daniel and Mr Habermel with deputy centre manager Amanda Healy. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Mr Habermel says the city is “reliant” on voluntary services like St Vincent’s.

He added: “We’re very lucky to have them and we couldn’t do without them.”

Centre manager Daniel Cauchi described the charity’s latest addition as “very exciting”.

He said: “It’s been very a challenging project, but it’s also very rewarding. Here we are, with this new kitchen to serve so many vulnerable people. We’re giving them a ‘hand up’ out of their current situation.”

St Vincent's service users will benefit from both sides of the kitchen - from enjoying meals and learning new skills. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

The kitchen is staffed by volunteers, along with vulnerable and homeless people who have turned to the centre for help and now want to give something back.

Daniel added: “The kitchen answers that need for food, but it also allows them to learn the skills to cook for themselves. How better to do that than cook for people who are in the position they were once in?

“It shows there is help and a pathway forward.”

Service users prepared a mouth-watering buffet for the event. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Daniel hopes the skills learned at the centre’s kitchen will help get people out of homelessness and into employment. Southend businesses have expressed an interest in employing staff from the centre’s kitchen.

He added: “We’re very focused on ‘social enterprise’.

Vinnie, the centre's therapy dog, was on hand (or paw) to sample the buffet. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

“Terrace Bar and the Roslin Beach Hotel in Thorpe Bay are very keen to take on people who’ve developed cooking skills here. They’ve been very supportive.”

Former refugees who came to the centre for support now work in the kitchen, honing their cookery skills and introducing new cuisines to service users.

The centre has partnered with charities and businesses in Southend, including Harp, Street Pastors, and Tesco. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Eman Abdulmaksoud, an Egyptian refugee, said: “The first skill we learned here was English. Then, we were able to learn cooking skills in the kitchen.

“We’ve learned a lot at this centre – and have become a family.”

Volunteer chef Senan Mortell says the kitchen is “so important” in helping those in financial trouble.

The new facilities were funded by HSBC, Veolia, NatWest and volunteers. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

He said: “When people are facing a lot of financial crises, it’s about finding ways to help.

“The most important thing is for people to know they’re respected and valued.”