Newbury Soup Kitchen offered reprieve by Swift Logistics Group and won’t have to vacate Hambridge Lane premises next month - but search goes on for permanent new home.

A homeless charity has been given a temporary reprieve.

Newbury Soup Kitchen is currently based at 1 Hambridge Lane, opposite the UK head office of Swift Logistics Group, the charity’s landlord.

Last October it was announced that the charity would be moving “due to unforeseen circumstances” and had thought it would need to vacate the premises in March.

However, Swift has now granted the soup kitchen an extended notice period with a commitment of support in relation to the rental agreement until the charity can find a permanent home.

Newbury Soup Kitchen founder and CEO Meryl Praill said she was “delighted” to report the news.

She added: “We will continue to look for our own site, where we can combine the kitchen, food, other storage and offices with a client space and outreach facilities.

“In the meantime, the CEO and trustees would like to thank Swift and their wonderful team for their continued support and engagement.

“Swift has always supported Newbury Soup Kitchen with so much and we are very grateful they have stepped up again, which will give us more time to find a suitable location to combine our services under one roof.”

The soup kitchen, with the support of Greenham Trust, continues to search for a new property to move into.

The charity has said that the new facility would need to be walking distance from the town centre and big enough for offices, parking, storage areas and a large space to serve food to the homeless and vulnerable and conduct outreach.

Newbury Soup Kitchen has requested anyone who might know of such a facility to contact enquire@newburysoupkitchen.org.uk or reach out to Greenham Trust.