A Morning of Warmth and Giving at Burton Soup Kitchen.
Our reporter, Tom Drysdale, spends a heartfelt morning at Burton Soup Kitchen, witnessing firsthand how they bring warmth, smiles, and hot meals to those in need.
By Tom Drysdale
It was a typical February morning – cold, wet, and windy – as I left Burton Radio HQ. Passing Sainsbury's and the Devonshire Arms, I made my way up Station Road towards my destination. A red man turned to green, and I crossed the road, the increasing rain hastening my step. At 10am, I rounded the corner and arrived in front of a white building, a sign designating it as the Burton Soup Kitchen.
I was kindly shown in by a woman named Chris. Inside, I was introduced to Gary Steen, volunteer and director of Burton Soup Kitchen C.I.C. Gary first became involved with the soup kitchen in 2019. Formerly a sales and marketing manager, he had vowed to do two things in his retirement: give back to the local community and brew his own beer at home. At the time of writing, he has yet to brew any beer.
Gary kindly showed me around. In the storeroom, he explained that all the items came from donations, either through working with companies such as Neighbourly or Fareshare, who specialise in tackling food waste, or from members of the public who drop in with various food items. Gary expressed his surprise and appreciation for the support the Burton community shows towards the soup kitchen.
It was then that I was handed an apron. Many tasks needed to be done before the day's clients arrived. The order of the day was meatball pasta bake. Tables needed to be laid with cutlery, biscuits, and homemade rocky roads generously donated by Repton School.
Once this was done, it was on to the kitchen for meal preparation. There were six of us in total and in the small kitchen, each person slotted into roles they had clearly taken on before. I was on tea and coffee duty before moving on to cheese grating; which they were mildly impressed by. It made me think that I might have a chance if it were an Olympic sport.
What struck me most was the atmosphere – it was jovial. Banter was exchanged between the volunteers, sprinkled with conversations about the pressing topics of the week and general catching up. It created a kind and welcoming feeling, with a shared purpose driving each volunteer towards a common goal: a successful lunch service.
During this time, I had the chance to talk to the different volunteers and get to know them better. First, I spoke to Roy, 75, who got involved with the soup kitchen just over a year ago. He mentioned some of the health issues he had faced and how much support he had received from the local community in Burton since moving there four years ago. Because of this, he felt the need to give back.
Then there was Colin, 84, who said the soup kitchen "helps him as much as he helps it". After the sad passing of some close family and friends, he feels that the soup kitchen gives him purpose. He said he wanted to do something positive with his time and joined four months ago, after speaking to Gary at their local rugby club.
Chris, whom I mentioned previously, had returned to the Burton area after living and working in London until COVID. She moved back to be closer to her sister. In her retirement, she had committed herself to charity work, previously working with the Red Cross and currently also volunteering with Barnardo's.
Furthermore, there was Rachel, a full-time mum who uses the soup kitchen to keep herself busy during term-time. She has subsequently taken on the role of "head chef" and the prestige that comes with that responsibility.
Finally, two more volunteers joined us just before service from Dains Accountants' local branch in Burton: Paula and Marie. They explained that their branch chooses a charity each year to support through volunteering and fundraising. Last year they chose the Burton Soup Kitchen. So far, they have raised almost £2,000 through activities ranging from bake sales to a marathon!
Around midday, the first clients started to arrive. It was here I saw the magic of the place. This place provided some of the most vulnerable in society with a sit-down meal where they could bond and speak with other people and volunteers. Clients were provided with tea and coffee as they arrived, followed by the meatball pasta bake with bread. The meal went down a treat, and soon seconds were being requested as there was plenty left over. This was followed by a pudding of panettone and custard.
Overall, it was a quiet day, with about 18 people coming in for food. Gary had explained earlier that they usually prepare for around 30 to 40 people. However, its impact cannot be understated. He also mentioned that there are teams operating on Mondays and Wednesdays as well as Fridays, providing this vital service to the community. They are always looking for more volunteers and further donations.
In terms of donations, they will not turn down any food. However, when asked what they specifically needed, Gary and co. provided me with a comprehensive list:
Tinned potatoes
Tinned vegetables
Tinned fruit (peaches in particular!)
Custard
Fresh onions and garlic
Beef mince
Tinned oxtail soup
They don’t just take food or monetary donations, they also accept donations of clothes and toiletries as well which can be provided to those who use the service.
I came home feeling blessed. It was a phenomenal experience that I would recommend to anyone looking to give back to the local community and meet like-minded people. I am grateful to Gary and the Burton Soup Kitchen for inviting the Burton Echo for a behind-the-scenes look.
If you would like to get involved, please visit www.burtonsoupkitchen.co.uk, or visit their Facebook page. You can also email the group at bsksoupinfo@gmail.com or drop off donations at 22 Rangemore Street, Burton upon Trent, DE14 2ED.
Have a positive community story to share? Email Tom Drysdale at teamburtonecho@gmail.com, and we’ll do our best to bring it to life!
Please help Burton Radio and Burton Echo support the community through radio, online news and social media. Both initiatives are via a not-for-profit organisation. We support local artists, community organisations and businesses.
The Burton Echo will be officially launched in April 2025 and will also be available in tabloid form in the summer.