A VOLUNTEER-run community kitchen will lose its home after it was told rent was to go up by more than 400 per cent.

Bolton Community Kitchen, operates out of the Salvation Army’s Bolton Citadel in St George’s Road.

The team of up to 20 volunteers operate a kitchen for the homeless, elderly and vulnerable every Monday, they currently pay £15 rent.

The kitchen’s chairman, Gareth Bradbury, aged 54, said he was told on Friday the rent would go up to £20 an hour, meaning their average kitchen would not cost around £80.

Mr Bradbury said he was ‘gutted’ when a member of the Salvation Army staff told him about the new policy.

He said: “I think it’s sad the Salvation Army are making a community kitchen homeless.

“I couldn’t afford that and wouldn’t pay it. I think we have been treated unfairly, we came in on a three month contract and we’ve been here two and a half years.

“On Friday they turned round and said you have four weeks — they just want us out.”

Bolton Community Kitchen was set up about four years ago and moved to the Salvation Army Citadel after a stint at the YMCA.

Every Monday the kitchen feeds about 60 people.

Some are homeless, others are vulnerable and some elderly people come too, Mr Bradbury said the elderly users call it the ‘Monday Club’.

Each week the kitchen is able to provide a two or three course meal, many people are able to get it for free and some pay 50p.

The kitchen is also a hub for support and Mr Bradbury said the volunteers are also able to give out clothes and sleeping bags.

He said: “It’s not just the food, it builds confidence as well and it’s the respect we give them, we treat them as equals because they are equals.”

Mr Bradbury was not sure what the future holds for the kitchen, he hoped they would find a new centre to run from.

He said he had hoped to start opening in the morning to provide breakfasts.

A Salvation Army spokesperson said: “The Salvation Army Bolton Citadel runs a weekly drop-in, from 9.30am to 12pm every Wednesday. The drop-in provides breakfast, lunch and activities for people experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable members of the community and enables the volunteers who run it to put people in touch with other agencies such as Employment Plus, Citizens Advice and addiction services.

“In common with many large Salvation Army churches, the Bolton Citadel also hires out its hall to local groups at its discretion.

"Bolton Community Kitchen was initially allowed to use the space, one evening a week for £15 per session in November 2015, on the understanding that this was a temporary arrangement.

“However, the Bolton Citadel has recently undergone an audit and has had to review all licensing agreements to ensure they are still fair and appropriate to all parties and do not prevent the church from funding its own work within the wider community.

"In addition the church leaders have also been informed that the kitchen and ventilation system is unsafe and will have to close for at least six weeks for urgent repairs.

“Consequently the Bolton Community Kitchen has been informed that the kitchen will be out of action for a considerable time and the price of hiring the hall, kitchen and toilets in future will be £20 per hour.

“They have said they will not be continuing to hire the hall so the Bolton Citadel has extended the notice period from 30 days to six weeks to enable them to find alternative premises.”

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