Newark Community Soup bringing people together and raising money for local charities including Emmaus Trust

A community soup initiative is offering hearty meals in return for a donation to support local causes.

The community micro financing idea has raised more thab £80 for Newark-based charities, including the Emmaus Trust, Positively Empowered Kids and Holy Trinity School.

Because of the rise in living costs, charities are struggling to provide their usual services, so this project aims to support them ­— while giving locals an opportunity for a meal and chat.

“We are excited to run our third event,” says Dawn Campbell, one of the project’s volunteers.

“Each month we have been meeting different faces, it has been lovely. Everyone always compliments the food too.”

The third community soup event took place at Newark Royal Market last week, serving a variety of homemade food, such as soups and bread.

“We are proud to give people a safe place to have some company,” said Jenni Harding, one of the soup makers.

“The covid pandemic plunged a lot of people into prolonged isolation, so we hope this gives people an incentive to pop out for friendly conversation. We all need it.”

Previous events have run at Quakers Centre and Beaumond Gardens as part of Newark Festival.