Multi-partnership working at Glasgow’s Winter Kitchen

“I like to call it collaborative leadership where no one organisation takes the credit"

It takes communication and coordination to make partnerships work and a powerful example of this is the recently opened Winter Kitchen in Glasgow. A whole host of organisations from across the city have come together to set up the initiative that supports homeless and vulnerable individuals gain access to food, shelter and healthcare under one roof. Run by The Mungo Foundation, Addaction (now ‘we are with you’), Scottish Community Recovery Network and the Glasgow Alcohol and Drug Partnership, the project benefits from the input of several other partners.

Open until late March, the Winter Kitchen is unique in providing a host of services in one location including a needle exchange, wound care and prescribing. It is key in signposting people to onward support, providing harm reduction services as well as being a gateway for those looking to start their recovery journey. The team at the kitchen signpost to long term support opportunities that work for individuals including further health services, recovery hubs and recovery communities in the city.

In its first week the service received 145 visitors, made onward referrals and supplied injection equipment kits. By the end of February visitors were at 85 per day. The success is largely down to the central location of the Winter Kitchen providing ease of access for people across Glasgow. Operating from 3pm Monday to Friday, the kitchen provides a space for people to go to during the day before evening services at churches, night shelters and hostels open.

Biba Brand, Regional Manager at The Mungo Foundation said: “We wanted to give people a warm, welcoming place during the day…The response has been fantastic, not just from the named partner organisations, but from the people of Glasgow as well. We’ve had tons of donations and employees from other organisations, like Turning Point Scotland and Waverley Care, have also been turning up regularly to contribute their time and expertise”.

John McCann from the Scottish Community Recovery Network said: “I like to call it collaborative leadership where no one organisation takes the credit. We put the invite out to partners in the city who helped support this; planning was coordinated without too much hassle and bureaucracy. I think on a personal level that we are meeting the needs of people who are being missed and not involved in services”.

The Winter Kitchen is an example of organisations and individuals coming together to provide services to the most vulnerable. Brought together by a common purpose, partners have worked to create a unique offering to people who otherwise may not access support.

The information in this article was provided in a press release from The Mungo Foundation