Newark Community Soup, the upcoming social and fundraising monthly event

Every month on a random Friday, Newark locals will have the opportunity to get together for a group discussion whilst eating a cup of homemade soup and bread.

Starting this Friday July 15, the ones who share the local and community interest will meet at the Newark Quaker Centre.

The idea came up when Carriages Cafe, which was doing a fortnightly community meal at low or no cost had to shut.

With the start of the financial cost of living crisis a few months ago, Jennifer Harding, Rowan Couzens and Wendy Patterson, who met at various Newark community groups, decided to make a joint effort.

Jennifer Harding, a volunteer for a variety of Newark’s groups, including Newark Foodbank said: “ It is an effort to give people a chance to meet others, eat something homemade and talk about what's going on.

“We have no idea how many will come, we hope about 10 or 15 at first. The Quaker centre can hold about 30 maximum downstairs.”

Shannon Bromell of The Soup Dwagon will be supplying the community soup with vegetarian and vegan soups.

“ Any donations will be used to micro-finance a local good cause which those who attend can choose. For the first one it will be either Newark Emmaus Trust or Positively Empowered Kids CIC.” Jennifer added.

Each month a new local good cause will be chosen by the people who attend the monthly meeting so that the money donated by everyone can be used in the best way possible.

The first community soup will be held this Friday July 15, from 12pm until 2pm at the Quaker Centre, 1 Queen’s Head Court.

For more information on the events you can visit the Facebook page ‘Newark Community Soup’.