huddersfield street kitchen

Huddersfield Street Kitchen is busy supplying the town's homeless, not only with hot food and drinks, but everything from sleeping bags and tents to toothpaste, toiletries and other essentials.

The weekly soup kitchen, which ran for the second time on Sunday December 2, isn't just busy with volunteers and homeless people. There are people coming to and from the kitchen marquee dropping off food, clothes and other items.

A woman from Ho Wah Chinese takeaway, Waterloo, has brought some spring rolls while earlier in the day, someone from Grappolo Italian restaurant, Lockwood, dropped by to top up supplies.

As I arrive another woman and her daughter, who are emigrating to the US, have come to donate some coats.

In times where more people are struggling to feed themselves and the numbers of homeless people are soaring the street kitchen is capturing the hearts of individuals and businesses in the town.

The Huddersfield Street Kitchen is part of Homeless Leeds Support, which runs street kitchens in Leeds and other towns in the North of England.

The kitchen at the Market Cross was opened by Danny Burrows, who himself used to be homeless.

He, his girlfriend Emma Duval and a handful of volunteers are busy dishing out the stuff we take for granted – as well as advice.

Danny, 35, says: "We provide a listening ear – that's the main thing.

"When you're on the street just being listened to is so important.

"I was homeless 15 years ago when I was 20. I was on the street for eight months. It wasn't nice.

"You feel like there's nobody there to help and listen to you."

There were 263 homeless people in Kirklees last month, according to charity Shelter's analysis of government figures.

Of these eight were sleeping rough.

Christina, 39, has been on the streets for four months.

She and her fellow rough sleeper Nikki, 42, say Sunday is the toughest day for homeless people.

Like many people on the streets they call it 'suicide Sunday' because it's the day when most charity and public services for the homeless are closed.

But Christina says the street kitchen helps them through.

"I think it's beautiful. It's wonderful.

"Without it I would be a lot worse off."

Nikki, who has been homeless for eight months, says: "Everything you need is there. There's not much in Huddersfield for us."