Need A Hot Meal?
Nobody should go hungry, that’s why provide a warm, home-cooked meal to all who walk through our doors.
Want To Help?
The People’s Kitchen is proudly run entirely by volunteers. Join us and help support vulnerable people across our city.
Making life better for those who need it most
The People’s Kitchen Belfast began in April 2017 as St Patrick’s Soup Kitchen, founded by Ardoyne native and councillor Paul McCusker. Starting with a humble tea trolley serving warm drinks and sandwiches in a church doorway on Donegall Street, the initiative quickly expanded to meet the growing needs of Belfast’s homeless and vulnerable populations. Today, the organisation operates seven days a week from its base on 1 Antrim Road, Belfast.
We are a volunteer-led organisation committed to alleviating poverty and homelessness in Belfast. Our mission is to provide a safe and welcoming environment where individuals facing hardship can access essential services, support, and a sense of community.
Paul McCusker, Founder
At The People’s Kitchen, we offer a range of services to support those in need:
- Hot Meals and Drinks: Providing nutritious food and beverages to those who are hungry.
- Clothing and Sleeping Bags: Distributing essential items to help individuals stay warm and dry.
- Emotional Support: Offering a listening ear and compassionate conversation to those who need it.
- Outreach Services: Our Evening Outreach Team operates nightly across Belfast, reaching out to individuals who may not be able to come to us. We work directly on the streets to reach those who need us most, wherever they are.
Campaigning, lobbying and advocacy…
At the People’s Kitchen, we are deeply committed to improving support and services for people experiencing homelessness. Our mission is not only to provide immediate help but to work towards long-term solutions that reduce the number of individuals who find themselves without a home. We believe that everyone deserves dignity, compassion, and the opportunity for a better future.
We lobby politicians and public representatives to ensure homelessness remains a top priority.
We challenge decision-makers to enact policies that address the root causes of homelessness. Our goal is to influence change at every level, so that more effective, compassionate systems are put in place.
We advocate for the rights of those who find themselves without a home.
Our team works directly with individuals experiencing homelessness, amplifying their voices and standing up for their rights – we ensure that those who feel voiceless are heard and supported..
We run awareness campaigns to keep homelessness at the forefront of public and political conversation.
By highlighting real stories and real issues, we bring the human side of homelessness into the spotlight. We raise these issues in the media, in City Hall, and at Stormont to keep the conversation going and to press for urgent and sustained action.
Powered by the compassion, dedication, and selflessness of an incredible team of volunteers and trustees…
Volunteering at the People’s Kitchen is both rewarding and demanding. You’ll work with a non- judgemental, inspirational team of people with hearts full of kindness, care and compassion.
Being a volunteer at the People’s Kitchen is such a privilege. To be present with people when they are at their most vulnerable is really to experience, close up, the fragility of all of us. Seeing and feeling the enormity of the chaos that homelessness brings to someone’s life helps me keep my own problems in perspective. Volunteering at The Peoples Kitchen brings out the best in me as a person. Knowing that I can help, even a little bit is so rewarding.
How you can help support our cause and provide a meal for the vulnerable.
At the heart of our mission is the support of our community. Whether you’re donating, fundraising, or volunteering, there are countless ways you can make a meaningful impact. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us provide essential services to those in need. Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals in Belfast. Join us in this vital work, and help us continue to offer support where it’s needed most.