Mission Statement

Purpose (what we do)

• We provide food, clothing and friendship for disadvantaged adults who are the homeless and the vulnerable in our local community.
• We reduce the burden on Housing Associations, Local Authorities, Health Services, and Police Services by helping to address the short-term needs of our clients and thereby reducing incidences of anti-social behaviour in the locality.
• We are entirely a voluntary organisation staffed by committed and caring individuals from all walks of life.
• The People’s Kitchen is a charity funded entirely by voluntary donations from business and the community.
• The Trustees of the kitchen ensure compliance with Charity Commission guidelines.
• All donations, whether in cash, in kind, or in goods are directed to our clients; we have no payroll overheads and pay no expenses to any of our volunteers. As a consequence, we are one of the most efficient charities in the country with high returns on donor investment.
• We rely solely on community trust and goodwill, and we are widely recognised across the north east of England with support coming from the public, local businesses, local charitable trusts, churches and schools. 

Onjectives (to achieve our purpose)

• We have consistently met the needs and demands of our clients over the past 25 years and intend to continue doing so.
• We currently provide around 33,000 acts of kindness each year through The Alison Centre and Outreach at an estimated cost of £2.20p per act. We intend to respond positively and flexibly to meet expected increases in demand of the next few years.
• We intend to respond to the changing profile of our client base as demand from younger people increases. The centre is now accessed by 400 under 25 year olds who are predominately male and now represent over 60% of the client base. The proportion of young adults accessing the centre is expected to increase further over the next few years.
• We intend to continue operating as cost effectively as possible to give our donors ‘value for money’ for their contributions. This will be achieved through continuing to minimise overheads and reducing running costs wherever possible. 
• We intend to continue to operate in a safe and healthy environment for our clients and volunteers through assessing risk, implementing our codes of conduct for clients and volunteers, and continuing to operate in accordance with legislative standards. 
• We will ensure the sustainability of the kitchen through volunteer recruitment campaigns and succession planning for positions of responsibility.
• We will develop further our client ‘gateway’ to other vital support services.
• We will raise the profile of the Kitchen and gain a broader base of charitable support to ensure funding sustainability.

Actions (to achieve our objectives) 

• Invest in new kitchen equipment that is energy efficient and fit for purpose.
• Recruit volunteers to ensure the staffing sustainability of the kitchen.
• Develop training programmes and train volunteers so as to ensure compliance with food and hygiene standards, and health and safety legislation. Training to include aggression management, risk-management, food hygiene, and safeguarding vulnerable adults.
• Develop training programmes for voluntary positions with responsibility so as to secure succession planning.
• Plan for a 20% increase in client demand at the Alison Centre over the next two years as a consequence of the recent CSR.
• Plan for growth in client demand through extending outreach services.
• Redevelop warehousing, stock control and logistical facilities to reduce manual handling and improve the effectiveness of the facility.
• Introduce IT systems throughout the charity to provide effective back office support.
• Become more energy efficient through equipment upgrading, conservation measures and improved monitoring.
• Improve the ‘gateway’ service offered to clients through effective sign-posting and working with other service providers including health, social services, and housing.