The scent of grilled food drifts across Mattock Lane in West Ealing as people gather by St John’s Church. It’s just past noon last Friday (25 July 2025), and the garden behind the church has been transformed into a community barbecue to support those who need it most.
The annual Ealing Soup Kitchen clients BBQ is in full swing – and this year’s event carries particular significance.
Formally opened by The King’s representative Deputy Lieutenant Richard Kornicki, the event was also attended by the Mayor of Ealing, Councillor Anthony Kelly, consort Maria Kelly, Revd Sam Sanya, vicar at St John’s Church and local MP for Ealing Southall, Deirdre Costigan.
With the mayor naming Ealing Soup Kitchen his official charity for 2025–26, the day offered an opportunity to shine a spotlight on a grassroots service that has quietly supported the borough’s most vulnerable for more than half a century.
Angela Doreen, the soup kitchen’s coordinator, said: “Today is a great day for the clients to enjoy the barbecue and a garden party. Most of our clients are street homeless, and some of them are too poor, so they don’t have this opportunity. They look forward to having a barbecue once a year.”
Founded in 1973, Ealing Soup Kitchen has been supporting people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Ealing. Its work goes far beyond hot meals – providing showers, clothing, English and maths classes, digital literacy sessions and more to those in need.
It also operates on a simple principle: no judgement, no questions.
Ms Doreen said: “We don’t have a registration system. There’s people that, when they haven’t got anything, and they’re poor, they feel embarrassed and they feel ashamed. So putting them through that extra added, ‘why do you need to use it?’, we don’t do that.”
That approach – dignity first, paperwork not needed – has helped the kitchen support many for more than five decades.
Ms Doreen said: “As I see it, I wouldn’t use a soup kitchen unless I need to use it. So therefore I shouldn’t need the client to answer any more questions.”
Having started as a volunteer in 2021 and becoming coordinator the following year, Ms Doreen now oversees an expanding community operation.
She said: “On a Friday I could have a minimum of 25 volunteers – but we’re still a little bit struggling and can do with more help.”
Her message to the wider borough is one of collaboration and shared responsibility.
Ms Doreen said: “Not just to be a volunteer but be part of it. We want to work in cohesion with the Ealing borough, because it’s all of us together that can make a difference.”
The soup kitchen is as diverse as the community it serves.
Ms Doreen revealed: “We’ve got clients from all backgrounds… Black and white, Irish, Turkish, Polish, Chinese and Asian. And so are our volunteers as well.”
The service operates four days a week: Mondays (6-8pm takeaway at the Salvation Army in West Ealing), Fridays (11am-3.30pm), and weekends (Saturday and Sunday, 3.30-5.30pm). On Fridays, guests can also access a wider range of support including classes, haircuts, food parcels and recreational activities.
To find out more about Ealing Soup Kitchen, click here.
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