M&S Norwich

Soul foundation's mission is to give hope to the destitute, restoring dignity, by ending cycles of poverty, addiction, abuse and violence. our aims are to promote social justice, mercy, accountability, restoration and hope. the foundation works locally and globally both independently and in partnership with other charitable organisations working with children, young people and vulnerable adults.

MAP aims to help young people have better lives; to grow up to be confident, contributing adults and to make positive life choices. We support young people (age 11-25) with issues relating to employment, education and training, money and debt, housing and homelessness, welfare rights, health, sexuality and gender, relationships and parenting. From our centres in Norwich, Great Yarmouth and Kings Lynn, through outreach works in schools and at ‘hubs’ in Norfolk’s coastal and market towns, we deliver young-person focused counselling and wellbeing advice; youth work activities; informal education and accredited learning; and independent professional advice, guidance and advocacy.

Food and Beverage Buggies (FABB) was a group dedicated to taking a hot 2 course meal, drinks, and sandwich bags for the next day out to the Homeless in Norwich, finding them in their doorways, cemeteries, wherever they were. This supplemented the existing work being done by 4 soup kitchen groups at the Haymarket, but filled a very vital mid-week need. Our buggies were filled with food, drinks, warm clothing, boots, sleeping bags etc, and we were out every Thursday, 52 weeks a year, from 7-9pm. During Covid FABB of necessity diversified to meet a growing need in schools and local families, where Covid had taken it's toll. Many families with young children were struggling to make ends meet, often due to job losses and furloughed reduced wages. School age children were going into schools hungry and not able to concentrate fully on lessons. Food poverty and food insecurity was rife, and FABB worked with 2 local schools and 15+ families to take food deliveries into schools to distribute, and taking essential food parcels to the families. This was much needed and appreciated, and we'll carry on as long as there is a hungry child or adult in our community. As the rules were reduced and the country went back to 'normal' FABB found that food poverty was still rife and we concentrated our efforts to help families in distress and hostel residents fighting their pathway back to a home of their own. Food parcels are delivered weekly to families for as long as they are needed, by the same volunteer to build trust. We deliver to doorsteps as most families have no car to collect, and many are housebound. We now deliver weekly to up to 60 families. We cook for a ladies hostel of 31 residents several times a week. Regular food times, combined with good nutrition show a marked improvement in social, mental and physical wellbeing.