Loose Ends is a drop-centre in Newbury serving food to the homeless and vulnerable. We are run by over 80 volunteers who serve on average 140 meals a week and give over 6,000 hours a year of their time to helping Loose Ends. The preparation and serving of healthy, hot meals is our main function but we also offer groceries, tins, toiletries and clean clothes to all those in need.
We strive to provide a safe, friendly atmosphere where people can socialise. Our clients are often homeless or ‘sofa surfing’, may have addictions, suffer from a mental illness or are on low incomes.
We are grateful to all our volunteers and to our donors.
We meet at Morton Hall, Newbury Baptist Church, Cheap Street, Newbury, RG14 5DD
Our Opening Times
Monday 12.30 - 13.15pm Soup Kitchen
Tuesday 12.30 - 13.15pm Lunch
Wednesday 09.30 - 10.45am Breakfast
Friday 09.30 - 10.45am Breakfast
Sunday 14.00 - 15.15pm Lunch
An Introduction to Loose Ends
We have produced a brief video which introduces our organisation and outlines the work that we do - please click on the image below :-
Our Objectives
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to assist the homeless and vulnerable in the Newbury area by providing a drop-in centre
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to serve a meal during each session
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to distribute donated or purchased food during sessions
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to distribute donated toileteries, clothing and bedding
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to guide ('signpost') clients to other agencies or charities that may be able to offer other forms of assistance when required.
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to show love and acceptance to all
Loose Ends exists to show love to those in the Newbury area who are in need through homelessness, addiction dependency and poverty with the aim of enabling them to access a more healthy, balanced and productive life.
As we provide meals, we are required by law to comply with the food hygiene regulations.
During our last inspection we were given a 4* rating.
Our Values
Loose Ends is an organisation with a Christian ethos run by volunteers, whether religious or not, and we serve the homeless and vulnerable in Newbury. Individuals who use our service must be a minimum age of 18 years.
No volunteer or individual to whom we provide a service will be discriminated against by us on the grounds of:
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Gender (including sex, marital status, gender re-assignment);
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Race (including ethnic origin, colour, nationality and national origin);
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Disability;
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Sexual orientation;
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Religion or belief;
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Age
A Brief History
Loose Ends first opened its doors in May 1990 through the vision and hard work of Richard Westall. Richard saw the need to support local, homeless people.
He raised the initial start-up funding and donations and, through the support of Newbury Baptist Church, opened a non-residential drop in centre at Morton Hall for a one year trial period. We have now been open for 27 years!
It originally met only on a Sunday for a sandwich lunch. By request, this then became a cooked lunch further down the line. Within a couple of years, Loose Ends was opening on a Wednesday and then Friday. Five years ago we started serving lunch on Monday and Tuesday and now operate five days a week.
