VOLUNTEERS at a soup kitchen that has helped the homeless community for the past year have vowed to carry on despite being made to leave their base.

Once a week the Bolton Community Kitchen has been working at the YMCA building in Deansgate where volunteers have regularly seen between 50 and 70 homeless people and others struggling on benefits looking for support, clothing or a hot meal.

But now the service has been left looking for a new home after complaints and safety fears were raised by parents of children who attend the Sharples Wrestling Club, which runs in the same building.

Julian Finch, chief executive of Bolton YMCA, said he had done everything he could to try and allow the service to stay in place, but had been left with no choice but to ask them to move out.

He said: “We greatly regret bringing this arrangement to an end due to the conflicts of interest between both parties. Despite extensive negotiations between both parties we have been unable to resolve them.

“It was a difficult decision to withdraw the use of the centre, but the safety and interests of the children and the young people and vulnerable adults are paramount, along with the sustainability of the YMCA which has been providing vital services for generations of disadvantaged children and young people in Bolton.”

Soup kitchen volunteers served their final meal at the YMCA last week and have found a temporary home in the garage of the nearby Hen and Chickens pub.

Gareth Bradbury, aged 52, the main organiser of the kitchen, said he was disappointed the service had to leave the YMCA but said volunteers would find a way to keep serving the community.

“They said they were losing money and it was either the wrestling club moved or we did, so they had no choice and they said we had to go. Julian did right by us though and gave us an extra two weeks.

“But it’s not just the meal that people are going to miss, it’s the chat and knowing we’re there for them and will look after them. I’m determined to keep it going, I’ll go out on my own in a van if I have to.”

The former wagon driver added: “I want to thank all the people who’re still donating to the service and volunteering.”

The Bolton News contacted Sharples Wrestling Club but no one had responded before we went to press.