Our Partners
NORWOOD & BRIXTON FOODBANK
HELPING LOCAL PEOPLE IN CRISIS
St Margaret’s the Queen Church is currently the home of Norwood and Brixton Food Bank. They are currently working hard to help feed the community and the demand for the foodbank has increased dramatically, in these unprecedented times.
“The foodbank was there when we really needed it, it was an absolute lifeline.”
We don’t think anyone in our community should have to face going hungry. That’s why we provide three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to us in crisis. We are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.
Norwood and Brixton Foodbank opened in September 2011 with the support and encouragement of a number of local churches. We began in West Norwood with a small space in St Luke’s church and quickly expanded our working area and added another distribution centre in Brixton in March 2012.
We serve those in our community in crisis and see people from across Lambeth but especially south Lambeth and also north Croydon, within a short walking distance of Norwood. Please note that during the Coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic we have suspended all face-to-face sessions and have moved to a DELIVERY ONLY SERVICE.
During summer of 2012, we began to receive support of an advice worker from Centre 70 and this has continued with support from Lambeth and more recently as a result of a grant from the Walcot Foundation. We also added Advice Workers to Brixton in April 2013.
During 2014 at Norwood, we piloted support from a Legal Team offering free legal advice, and this has proved so successful it is now part of our programme on a fortnightly basis. 2015 saw us add work support and then in 2016 we have visit from Mosaic Clubhouse, providing support and signposting to those with mental health issues.
Brixton has expanded their work with Food For Thought, a short lunchtime praise service and soup each Tuesday.
As we acknowledge that Foodbanks are ‘More than Food’, we are looking to what we can provide beyond the sessions. We have strong links with CAP Brixton, offering debt advice and support for those struggling to manage their money. We have also just started our Eat Well, Spend Less project, which offers cookery courses to those wishing to learn to cook, or gain confidence in cooking healthy meals, often using fresh foods as well as advice on how to cook on a budget and still produce nutritious meals.
Norwood and Brixton Foodbank continues to be supported by local churches, community and a very enthusiastic team of volunteers.
The SOUTH LONDON WAREHOUSE at St Margaret's Church in Streatham HIll is OPEN to receive food donations - please see BELOW for full address and opening times. During these opening hours our large blue drop boxes will be placed outside our warehouse entrance (weather permitting) for you to place your donations in.
If you wish to donate FOOD (and can't get to our warehouse) or CASH please go to our Give Help page for further information. There is a regularly updated shopping list on this page plus store locations, opening times and information about the various ways to donate. You can also DONATE cash using the red button on the top right of this page. Donating cash means we can purchase items we may need urgently if we run short of anything.
SOUTH LONDON WAREHOUSE
St Margaret's Church
Barcombe Avenue
Streatham Hill
SW2 3BH
OPEN TO DELIVER DONATIONS:
Mon - Fri 9.30am - 2.30pm
During these challenging times, the club would like to encourage supporters to donate to their local food bank to help those in desperate need.
The club has been championing the work done by the Norwood and Brixton Food Bank for more than a year, and for supporters living locally – donations are warmly received. Items in high demand are: longlife milk, UHT fruit juice, tinned pies, sweetcorn, small box tissues and nappies (sizes 5, 6 and 7) – but all items donated are distributed.
The address is St Margaret’s Church, Barcombe Ave, SW2 3BH, but please ensure donations / deliveries are arranged during Tuesday - Friday 10am - 2pm, or Saturday 9am - 11am: https://norwoodbrixton.foodbank.org.uk/
The food bank intends to stay open throughout the crisis to ensure people do not go hungry, and if the need arises they will deliver parcels.
For supporters not living in the area, there is an app called Foodbank (Utilities) where users can select their local food bank and see what items are in highest demand at their local centre. Click here for more information on the app.
