Our Founder - Alison Kay

In 1985, The Newcastle Evening Chronicle reported the death of a man whose body had been found in bushes on some waste land.

Alison Kay (then in her 70's) was so saddened that any man or woman should die alone, decided that she would try to relieve the loneliness of those that she could reach. Six months passed while she researched her ideas and talked to many other groups of charity workers and "experts", both official and unofficial.

Alison began in a humble way, sitting with alcoholics and homeless men in the city centre. After many hours of patient visits the barriers of mistrust started to fall away, conversations began and Alsion became convinced that what the homeless needed most is friendship.

By 1986, Alison had developed a band of several other helpers which was just as well as the number of "chaps" (as she called them) had grown to 40. After looking through the city for a suitable venue, Alison and her band discovered a suitable space under the railway arches next to Dean Street.

Alison and friends inaugurated the very first People’s Kitchen under a railway arch and offered food, clothes and a warm fire - welcoming anyone who came in peace, without asking any questions about their background or how they came to need our help.

The work was made possible through the generous support of volunteers and sponsors recruited by Alison and over thirty years later the tradition continues even though the organisation has grown significantly since the humble beginnings.

For her work with the homeless and disadvantaged on Tyneside, Alison received an O.B.E. from the Queen in 1992 and an Honorary Degree from Newcastle University in 1997. 

Alison Kay died in 2001 aged 91, but inspired by her example, the Peoples’ Kitchen remains true to its principles over thirty years later providing “Friendship and Food” to anyone who requests our support.