An important update about Soul Food

Dear Friends,

We want to share an important update about Soul Food. Probably the most difficult update we have ever written.

After much thought and careful discussion, the trustees of Soul Food Edinburgh, have made the decision to move towards winding down the charity.

This is not a decision that they have taken lightly.

Soul Food has always been more than a meal. It has been about dignity, belonging

and community – a place where people are welcomed, known, and valued.

We are deeply grateful for everything that has grown from it.

The decision comes from a simple and honest place. We no longer live in Edinburgh,

and Soul Food has always been an incarnational, community-based ministry walking

alongside those dealing with the realities of poverty, isolation and loneliness. It

works best when it is rooted locally, led locally, and shaped by people who are

present. We cannot offer that in the way we once did.

Alongside this, the practical realities have become clearer. We are no longer able to

provide the leadership, infrastructure, oversight, and resources needed to run Soul

Food Edinburgh well. We had hoped to be able to do this from Northumberland, our new home, but it has proved to be tricky. Because we care about what Soul Food is, we believe it is right to act with integrity now rather than let things drift.

We have been so honoured to receive a Scottish Business Enterprise Award and to

be named as one of The Big Issues 100 Changemakers 2026, both of which

demonstrate the care and commitment with which Soul Food Edinburgh has been

run. Another award will be announced later in May, which we are not able to announce before the official press release, but are incredibly grateful and honoured to receive.And so it is with real sadness, but also with clarity, we have decided to bring Soul

Food, as it currently operates, to a close. This will mean that Thursday’s meal at

Grace Church Leith will close. Meals that are run by partners will continue to run as normal.

We are deeply grateful to the volunteers who have given their time, energy,

commitment and care. I want to give a huge shout out to Thursday's meal's team, they have been the most incredible people to work alongside. Genuinely, the best volunteers - ever!! We are so grateful too, to Apex Hotels and Doubletree Hilton, who are have been faithful, generous and committed volunteers and donors to the meal.

We cannot thank enough those who have so faithfully supported us financially over

the last 8 years. We have always had enough finance and that has been solely down

to the generosity of trusts and individual donors.

We hold huge gratitude to the guests who have shaped the community and trusted

us with their stories and presence. getting to do life together over these last 12 years has been the greatest privilege of our lives.

To the churches and local partners who have supported, joined in and believed in

this work over the years – thank you from the bottom of our hearts. It has been a

privilege to be part of this together.

This is not a lost vision.

We remain deeply committed to this model of ministry – hospitality, dignity, and

community at the centre.

Where there are opportunities for others to develop similar work locally, we would be

glad to support, advise, and share the resources we have developed. We know that other wonderful initiatives will step into this space. They would be so gratefully received by the people of Edinburgh who find rooms like Soul Food to be exceptionally important to their lives.

We believe that this kind of mission still matters.

And we hope it will continue – rooted in local communities, carried by local people –

in new ways and new places.

Over the last weeks, we have been in touch with those directly involved, and we will look

to finish well – with gratitude, care and respect for everyone who has been part of

this journey. Thank you for being part of Soul Food Edinburgh,

Sincerely,

Jenny Cornfield and the Soul Food Edinburgh Trustees