Soup kitchen is fifth emergency service - charity

A soup kitchen said it has become like a fifth emergency service amid a rising number of people experiencing homelessness in a city.

Peterborough Soup Kitchen said it offered hot food and drinks to about 100 people a night from its serving van.

The number of people presenting themselves to Peterborough City Council as homeless has risen by 40% from an average of 51 a week in 2021-22 to 70 a week in 2023-24.

Another homeless charity said it had seen more women accessing its services as homelessness increased across the city.

Beccy Tyler, the secretary of Peterborough Soup Kitchen, which supports disadvantaged and homeless people, said: "We are like a fifth emergency service to them.

"We're that level of support they need and we will continue to do this every day, we just need more help."

The Light Project Peterborough, which also supports homeless people in the city, reported 53 new people have sought its help this month.

Steven Pettican, CEO of the Light Project Peterborough, said in the past six months there had been an increase in the number of women coming through the charity's doors.

He told the BBC: "It's heart-breaking to hear some of those stories.

"People are trying hard to break free from some of the challenges they are facing and want to move forward; sometimes it's tough."

Jessica, 31, volunteered at the charity after experiencing homelessness. She said it was important to help others who were in similar situations to her.

She said she did not have the courage to tell her family about her situation as she had been independent from a young age.

"It's important [volunteering] because I can help people in the same situation as me every day...it makes me feel well to give them the hope given to me," Jessica said.

Since January, the Light Project said it had helped about 482 people find somewhere safe to stay.

More people have also approached the council for help, but with strict budgets it said it had to look at all the different options available and what it could do with the money it had.

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