Our Community Food Club is open on Tuesdays 11 am – 12:30 pm at the WELLcome Hub, 35 Vicarage Lane, London E6 6DQ
It is open to anyone living in E6, regardless of your circumstances. The cost to attend is £5 per visit, for which shoppers receive 20 tokens. You can then exchange these tokens for the food and household items you want the most at a low, discounted price.
How is a Food Club different to Food Bank?
Bonny Downs launched our Community Food Club in September 2022 as part of our Community Support services for our neighbours in need. Like a food bank, the purpose of a food club is to support people who are struggling to afford the essentials they need. But there are important differences.
Food banks are intended to provide short-term, crisis support for people suffering food poverty. For example, at Bonny Downs we typically provide food parcels a maximum of three times during any six-month period – which helps ensure that we turn nobody away.
On the other hand, food clubs are designed to provide a regular support network and be part of a longer-term solution that empowers people and helps them to get their finances back on track. Food clubs allows people to choose the items they need and work on their own budget.
By running our Food Club alongside our Food Bank, we offer people in Newham a greater choice as well as more support in tackling the underlying causes of the poverty they face.
The Food Club supports a wide range of people who face food poverty for different reasons. These may include local people who have lost their jobs or are struggling on benefits; overseas nationals who live here legally but receive no support under the UK’s government’s immigration policy; and others who are simply finding they can no longer afford to feed their families because of the cost of living crisis.
In line with our strategy to provide longer-term support for people facing crisis, our Food Club also offers ‘more than food’. We have qualified advisors onsite, who can help members with a range of different issues and challenges. These include how to make a household budget, tips on managing money, and debt advice. We can also signpost people to other specialist support services, including the Citizens Advice Bureau, immigration advice, Shelter and other housing advice, and welfare benefits advice.
Are there any conditions to using the Food Club?
The Club is open to anyone who lives in E6. We do not require people to prove their income or bring a referral voucher. Shoppers do not need to book in advance and can just turn up on the day. We do ask people to complete a short registration form on their first visit, and they can then come any week they wish.
The items available will vary from week to week but there will always be a range of staple foods and household goods. Food is sourced through a mix of items saved from food waste, donations, and supermarket shopping by our volunteers.
How can I support the Food Club?
We welcome all support. You can volunteer, give money or donate non-perishable items to the Food Club during its opening times.