SNOW Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody has donated £20,000 to a North Belfast homelessness charity, which also supports those experiencing addiction and mental health difficulties.
The charity, The People’s Kitchen, was opened in 2017 and was formerly known as St Patrick’s Soup Kitchen. It was established by Independent Belfast City Councillor Paul McCusker, who is from Ardoyne.
The work undertaken by The People’s Kitchen has been described as a lifeline for many in North Belfast. It also runs a weekly outreach programme, as well as offering meals and support from their hub on the Antrim Road. In a Facebook post, The People’s Kitchen said the donation from the Gary Lightbody Foundation would allow services to continue during the winter months, a period of extreme pressure. The charity thanked Mr Lightbody and his foundation for the support.
This isn’t the first instance of the Bangor musician supporting the charity. He had previously donated £10,000 to the charity and signed its Charter to End Rough Sleeping earlier in 2025.
The People’s Kitchen said it had reported the highest number of rough sleepers ever this Christmas, with many being told that no accommodation was available from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. The charity confirmed on social media that they would continue to advocate for those who are homeless.
