A compassionate project centred on respect, food and hope celebrates its 10-year anniversary this month.

Every Sunday dedicated volunteers from the Middlesbrough Sikh Temple help provide a free hot meal to around 80 vulnerable people in the town centre.

Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen feeds those in need, including people who may be homeless or living in temporary accommodation, from a trailer in the Zetland Street car park.

Those involved take satisfaction in helping others and feel pride in following in the footsteps of one of their spiritual leaders. Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak who had the core belief that everybody should be treated equally.

The team of volunteers

Michael Singh, from Acklam, explains: “Our Guru first started feeding people and treating them equally in this way over 550 years ago.

“Teams from all over the country do this every night and we feed 80 people a week every Sunday in Middlesbrough.

“Other larger cities such as Birmingham will feed between 1,000 and 1,500 people per week but for us in Middlesbrough 80 is a good number.”

Several members of Michael’s immediate family help out, including his 15-year-old son Yuvraj. Michael’s fellow team leaders are Jasbir, Sukwant and Jagat Singh.

Michael is keen to stress it’s a “team effort” of different religions coming together to support people.

Muslim-owned businesses donate cooking essentials and warm desserts.

Michael Singh

Michael, 43, says: “It takes us two hours to prepare the food. It’s not easy but we enjoy it. The people that come respect us and appreciate it.

“We have between 40 and 45 regulars who have been coming along since the day we started.

“We do also see new faces coming along. It’s difficult when you consider some of the people that need our help are so young.”

The majority of the expense is covered by contributions from the Sikh community.

Yuvraj Singh

Town centre businesses donate biscuits, oil and pasta, while Yum Yum Burgers and Deserts contributes 100 warm, fresh donuts every week.

“Yum Yum is a fantastic local business,” Michael says.

“It’s a good example of a Muslim-owned business coming together with the Sikh community to help anyone who is in need in Middlesbrough.

“There’s a great team spirit and to reach 10 years feels really special.”

We are words by Andrew Glover

We are pictures by Dave Charnley