Member Article

The People's Kitchen raises the roof

Situated in the West of end of Newcastle, is the ‘People’s Kitchen’. Established in 1985, Alison Kay inspired an army of volunteers to provide a much need lifeline to the homeless and disadvantaged across the North East. For over 30 years the People’s Kitchen has been providing ‘Friendship and Food’, and is now recognised as one of the leading, volunteer-lead charitable organisations in the area, relying completely on the generosity of donations from the general public augmented by contributions from some of the leading North east based companies.

Every day, 120 people pass through its doors and are fed and kept warm by over 150 voluntary workers.

They have been based in their current location – a Grade 2 listed former Church on Bath Lane - since 1997 and through a monumental fundraising mission have raised enough money to undertake some much needed repair works to their vast roof.

Now, through the efforts of Jason Carr of Simpson Property Consultants Limited (SPC Ltd) and the skills of locally-based contractors, the scaffolding has come down to reveal a new roof providing a stunning visual appearance from St James’ Boulevard, the gateway to the City from the west, identical to the original dual pitched roof and therefore fully compliant in terms of conservation.

“As a result of Storm Desmond in 2015 the increasing water penetration problems we were facing meant that the essential service the Charity provides was increasingly at risk and we therefore decided to seek advice as regard a permanent solution,” said Bill Naylor, one of PK’s Trustees. “Also, the poor insulation standards of the roof meant that controlling and regulating the internal environment of the building had become increasingly more challenging.”

Jason Carr of SPC Ltd commented “Given the building’s listed status, liaison with Newcastle City Council’s Conservation Officer was essential to agree all aspects of the works and to ensure it was in keeping with the original appearance of the building. The project was made all the more difficult by the necessity to keep the building 100% operational throughout the job”

After a large tender process, Main Contractor, Weatherproofing Advisors Limited, stripped the roof to its rafters before re-roofing could commence and as lengths of the original clay ridge had been lost over the years, a great deal of research was required to source replacement pieces of the same era, profile and material in order to retain the roof’s authentic appearance.

Andrew Grieve, Director of Principal Contractor Weatherproofing Advisors commented ’‘with the age and listed nature of the building, the project offered a number of complexities, which through great teamwork were overcome’’. He also added ’’It was a wonderful privilege to be involved in a project where the outcome has such an impact. The service ‘The People’s Kitchen offers is quite incredible, providing people from within the city a lifeline. It’s humbling to really appreciate the difference a warm meal, conversation and genuine compassion can provide someone’’.

­­­“Jason Carr, Director at SPC Ltd, said: “I was pleased to be involved in the design, specification and project management of these works for this important local charity which helps amongst others the homeless people of the city. It was important that any repair or replacement work on the structure and roof covering of a building of such importance with such a prominent roof was carried out safely and in sympathy with the original design and appearance in terms of materials and quality of workmanship and this all adds to the authenticity of the completed project.”

“Despite a number of unforeseen set-backs encountered along the way, the job came in on budget and we were very impressed with Jason and the team he assembled. We are an entirely voluntarily funded and run Charity doing essential work in the City. Their care of us and their respect for the work that we do was absolutely first-class” said Bill Naylor. “We can’t thank them enough”.

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