Served with soul

Lynne McNeil reports on a partnership between a West Lothian church and a charity serving companionship and quality meals to the local community.

IT is Tuesday and it is 5pm and the doors are ready to open for service with people already waiting for tables.

But this is not a swanky restaurant, but a weekly act of hospitality supported by the congregation of a West Lothian church which has partnered with a charity specialising in offering a quality two-course meal to those in need.

Soul Food Livingston’s weekly session takes place at Mosswood Community Centre in Knightsridge.

Anywhere between 40 and 100 guests are expected and preparation by a team of volunteers has been ongoing since noon.

Guests of all ages receive a nourishing and tasty two-course meal, served to the highest standards. The weekly meal service can attract anything from 40 to 100 people of all ages (the weekly average is around 60).

The seeds for the project were sown around 2021 when the congregation of Livingston United Parish Church wanted to set up a hospitality project to serve local people.

The work today is a partnership extension of the work of Soul Food Edinburgh, a charity founded to offer high quality meals to those in need, whilst seeking to offer help and support in a spirit of warmth and equality.

Founders Richard and Jenny Cornfield were initially inspired by an event organised by the Astell Foundation in London (Saturday Night Fever) which offered a meal to homeless and marginalised people each Saturday, which was found to be the hardest night of the week for those in need to eat.

“ It is really encouraging to see people, enthusiastically engage with the heart of the Christian message, which they would not otherwise do.

The couple sought to cook a high quality meal and then go out and invite neighbours to dinner in Edinburgh.

The initiative was named Soul Food and opened its doors for the first time in March 2014 at Ps and Gs Church, York Place in Edinburgh, expanding to St Margaret’s Church in Easter Road in May 2018. In August 2018, Soul Food Edinburgh became a charity.

The charity has expanded and is now supported by many churches across the city, offering meals in different parts of the city on different days each week and in West Lothian.

Norma Brown, the West Lothian project’s organiser explained how she first heard about Soul Food while working in Edinburgh.

“I first heard about Soul Food when I was working in Edinburgh. I had set up and managed a café for Liberton Kirk, and worked there for seven years. I cannot remember, but there was probably something on social media/Facebook which caught my attention. “It was the early days of Soul Food in Edinburgh, and I think they were looking for other churches to come on board.

“I thought the concept was fabulous – feeding people who were hungry, and possibly homeless. The concept being that a table is set, guests are welcomed in and a two course homecooked meal served. All done to the best of our ability, and not a soup kitchen with paper plates.

“I could easily identify with and embrace the values of Soul Food, which are: offering a generous meal, a safe space where everyone is treated as an equal while working collaboratively with other agencies and also offering a commitment to walk alongside anyone in need of support.”

In 2021, the congregation of Livingston United Parish Church wanted to establish a new initiative centring around hospitality.

Norma explains: “Three years ago I was invited by Livingston United Parish Church to set up and manage a hospitality project.

This now involves a community café in two different areas of Livingston and it is in one of these that our Soul Food meal takes place every Tuesday.”

Planning and partnership were key in establishing West Lothian’s first Soul Food initiative.

Outlining the background, Norma says: “I had carried the idea from when I worked in Edinburgh, and coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic and into a cost of living crisis, it was felt this was something we had to do.

“I approached our local NHS community services, and they advised the best location to have the meal.

“The Soul Food meal was well received from the start, by the local community and wider community partners. There was quite a bit of interest in this ‘new’ idea.”

Running the project would require support and Norma appealed to the Livingston United congregation for help.

“I knew that I would need a team of volunteers to help, so of course I made a plea to folks at church! Initially the key volunteers were all church, but gradually others have come on board, spouses of church members, neighbours etc.

“The community support is very significant, enabling the initiative to grow to what it is today.”

An average of 60 guests join the meal each week, although it can range from 40 to 100, says Norma.

“This includes families with children, adults and seniors. We welcome anyone of any age.

“We have at least 10 volunteers, ensuring smooth delivery of the meal.

“We have different roles to fit what the volunteer can offer. So, cooking, setting tables, serving up the meal, serving coffees, washing dishes, chatting. We have a rota as some people volunteer every week, others once a month.

“The preparation takes quite a few hours to cook for that number, roughly from noon until 5pm.

“We receive donations in various forms. In addition to funding centrally from Soul Food, we also benefit from ‘soul foodies’ who give a monthly amount to us, supermarket surplus foods, and one-off donations from supporters.”

She hopes the work will continue to thrive and support the local community.

“My hope for the future is that our Soul Food meal can continue to be provided to a high standard. I also hope that we can develop relationships and support for our guests with some of the wider challenges of everyday life.

“Perhaps the opportunity may arise to establish a second soul food meal in the wider area.”

But the opportunity for mission (as well as service) has also been part of the congregation’s involvement.

Norma explains: “We have now hosted two community carol concerts with our Soul Food guests participating in the programme.

“It is really encouraging to see people, enthusiastically engage with the heart of the Christian message, which they would not otherwise do.”

Livingston United minister, the Rev Marc Kenton added: “There is a deep sense of satisfaction within our congregation that we able to serve our community via Soul Food.

“Our wonderful team of volunteers not only prepare and provide a meal, they offer companionship and a sense of community.”