Homeless project shortlisted in £20,000 kitchen awards

Lighthouse Homes, which provides accommodation and life skills, is one of ten projects in line to win thousands of pounds worth of cooking appliances.

It was one of 200 nominations that flooded in from across the country for the Community Kitchen Awards, sponsored by British cooking brand Stoves, which is aimed at placing the kitchen at the heart of local communities.

The nominations have now been whittled down for a public vote, and a total of £20,000 is up for grabs to help organisations transform their kitchen facilities.

Lighthouse Homes, which has a base in Rotherham, south Yorkshire, as well as Shirebrook, has successfully helped to turn around the lives of homeless people for more than 15 years.

Originally set up by a church group, it has enabled them to break free from life-controlling problems such as poverty, drink and drugs, and overcome psychological and sociological issues they faced.

If Lighthouse is successful in the kitchen awards, it will help the organisation continue to offer people in need the opportunity to learn new skills and play an active role in them becoming independent again.

Jonathan Casley, the managing director of Stoves’ parent company, Glen Dimplex Home Appliances, said: “The Community Kitchens Awards were designed to help these projects, and we have been overwhelmed by excellent entries.

“They highlight how much amazing community-based work goes on to help vulnerable, marginalised and less well-off groups of people across the UK.

“Preparing and sharing food brings people together, so a kitchen is often an important part of a community space. But kitchens can be expensive to set up and maintain, hence these awards. Selecting the shortlist was really difficult, so we hope everyone will now get behind them to vote.”

The public vote is taking place via the Stoves Facebook page until Sunday, January 8. Gold, silver and bronze prize packages, worth between £2,000 and £5,000, will be awarded to the winning projects.