Brixton People’s Kitchen is a community shop and café catering to local people on low or no income - but they have just been told they have to vacate their premises.

BPK provide a weeks’ worth of essential groceries and cooked food for £5-£10, as well as community activities, to over 270 households each week in North Lambeth, which is a deprived part of London. They also provide volunteering and work opportunities to local disabled people and vulnerable young people, and they provided free food to 5,000 households during the first lockdown.

Their landlord, The Black Prince Community Hub - CEO Kirk Harrison, has served them notice to quit and vacate the premises with only 12 weeks’ notice. They have informed BPK that they have recently had 2 unsolicited enquiries about the premises. BPK were given just two weeks to re-apply for their concession licence without any information - making it clear in no uncertain terms that the offer was never intended to be taken seriously. The new businesses have offered more money for the space, but BPK have been given no opportunity to meet this offer.

In the 13 months that BPK have been in this space, they have built strong relationships within the community. They have turned this disused premises into a popular local space and it has become an anchor for the community.

Their replacement is a commercial outfit that will not be providing any community service, which is desperately needed within this area. With only 12 weeks to go, BPK currently have no new premises to move to and over 5,000 vulnerable people will be left without access to healthy affordable food - all while the fallout from the pandemic continues to hit the most vulnerable communities and those on the lowest incomes with children.

The BBC Recently visited Brixton People's Kitchen and the video can be watched on their Twitter page here: https://twitter.com/i/status/1379511688974712837

BPK is the lifeline that many families need in these uncertain times. Please sign and share this petition to show how much Brixton People’s Kitchen is needed and wanted. Please help us try to convince The Black Prince Community Hub that BPK must remain a part of our community.