The Mayor of Haringey served meals at a soup kitchen where diners are treated as friends and family.

The Canaan Kitchen, in Somerset Road, Tottenham, which is run by the OK Foundation, serves a three-course dinner to vulnerable men and women on Saturday evenings.

Around 60 people, including regulars who have been attending the kitchen since it opened five years ago, attended when Mayor Councillor Kaushika Amin visited to serve dinners and met the diners.

Cllr Amin she was “overwhelmed” by the diversity of people who come to the soup kitchen.

She said: “I was stunned by it. The care, attention and support the people who run it provide really took me by surprise, it’s incredible.

“It’s just fabulous – it seriously is. They are so gentle and the whole concept is incredible. The volunteers who run it have an enormous amount of respect for the people who come here.

“The people I spoke to came from all kinds of backgrounds – homeless, hostels, or just in a difficult situation at home – but to know that someone thinks and cares about them is so valuable to them.”

Cllr Amin added that she was moved by the personal stories of those she spoke to and the circumstances that have made them reliant on the service.

The soup kitchen runs cooking and healthy eating workshops, singing classes and IT skills lessons and is staffed entirely by volunteers.

The volunteers know each person by name and some of the diners refer to the OK Foundation Founder, Christina Omideyi, as “mum”.

Cllr Amin added: “For many of them, it’s the only fresh and nutritious meal they get all week.

“I was so taken aback by it all. I keep saying to everyone I meet and every event I go to, how special that place is. I want people to go down and meet them.

“During difficult times, the support it gives to people is so valuable.”