Welcome to the team!

Here at SOAR, we are constantly evolving and changing in the pursuit of excellence. To help achieve this, our recruitment processes are about getting the right people, to fit the right posts. Here is an introduction to the latest member of our team:

Gabriela Socol - Manager of Hope Kitchen Social Café

As Manager of Social Café Hope Kitchen, I will be leading and supporting volunteers through induction, training, supervision and guidance, while developing menus, events, workshops, mentoring and wellbeing programmes, ensuring that all Environmental Health requirements are met. My role is about creating a welcoming, inclusive space that brings people together through food, culture, volunteering and shared experiences, helping to improve wellbeing, healthy lifestyles and social connectedness across our diverse community.

I’m especially excited to develop Hope Kitchen Social Café at Longley 4 Greens Community Centre, a safe, welcoming place with a wonderful community spirit, where people can come together, enjoy a healthy meal, feel connected and share experiences. I’m very happy to be part of this vibrant community and to work with SOAR to create opportunities that benefit local residents, celebrate diversity and help people feel valued, supported and inspired to get involved.

Outside of work, I’m passionate about helping others through volunteering, including cooking for not-for-profit organisations, offering business and management consultancy, and organising and taking part in cultural events where I’m proud to celebrate my Romanian heritage and my connection to the UK. I’m particularly inspired by Queen Marie of Romania, a British-born princess who became Queen of Romania and devoted herself to humanitarian causes, and I hope to carry forward that same spirit of bringing people and cultures together.