Debbie Darby and volunteers launch community soup kitchen DD’s Soup at Beaumont Walk community centre in Newark’s Yorke Drive

A volunteer-run soup kitchen has been set up to bring residents together and help them access additional support.

Debbie Darby, who is both a county and district councillor, set up the initiative alongside a team of three other volunteers including her son Logan, on Yorke Drive.

Held on the second Friday of each month at Beaumont Walk Community Centre, from 11.30am to 1.30pm, DD’s Soups offers attendees a choice of two homemade soups alongside hot drinks and biscuits.

It is open to anyone but is particularly aimed at elderly and disabled residents of the Yorke Drive and Winthorpe Road estates, to enable to them to get out and socialise as well as learn about support available to them.

Debbie said: “I just thought it would be a really nice idea for the local community, we’ve got a lot of pensioners here — some are isolated or they’re on their own, their partners have passed away — and disabled people too.

“I’m just trying to bring the community together, we’ve had the issues with anti-social behaviour which thankfully has quietened down, and so I thought lets get some of these residents out and about.”

Debbie has also specially created lists of services, important contact numbers, and advice which they can access at the soup sessions.

She added: “There can be a bit of a barrier for people to get online and get information about pension credit, scams, and other services, I’ve printed some off they can see here.

“It’s kind of soup session come surgery as I’m the district councillor for the Bridge ward.”

The last session was held on Valentine’s Day, February 14, and attendees were also treated to themed cakes to “spread the love”.

Hosting DD’s Soups on the second Friday of each month also ties it in with the other social eats held at the community centre, on the last Friday of each month, meaning residents have a social event to attend every fortnight if they wish.

The venue also has a grade five food hygiene rating, and volunteers are trained in allergies.

“We’re very fortunate to have had £300 in funding from Newark and Sherwood,” Debbie added.

The sessions are currently free, but from April there will be a 50p charge per session to keep it running.