The cost of living crisis is having a huge impact on families across Westminster, leaving many struggling to cover the costs of soaring energy bills and food price increases.
We have detailed the locations in the borough where organisations are working to support local households with free and subsidised provision for families.
You can find information about how to access pantries and food banks if you are in need of support, or if you are able to, please consider donating food or money to help keep families fed and warm over winter.
Suggested items to donate: rice, pasta, biscuits, cakes, toiletries, female hygiene products, hot drinks, snacks, cleaning goods, canned food, condiments, cold drinks (not alcohol), baking ingredients
FOOD BANK LOCATIONS:
Westbourne Park Pantry
Address: Westbourne Park Baptist Church, Porchester Road, London W2 5DX
For a small weekly subscription of £5, members of this pantry will be able to have access to food, including fresh fruit and vegetables and store cupboard favourites that will often value £15-20 or more! Membership is open to the community and local families are strongly encouraged to join.
Accepting donations.
To receive items: There is currently a waiting list to become a Member.
Opening times:
Thursday: 10am – 1pm & 3.30pm – 5.30pm
Friday: 10am – 1pm
Contact email: info@wpbc.co
Contact phone: 020 7727 6019
The Abbey Centre – Community Pantry
Address: The Abbey Centre, 34 Great Smith Street ,London, SW1P 3BU
For a small weekly subscription of £4.50, members of the Community Pantry can select a number of items each week, including fresh fruit and vegetables, store cupboard favourites, household cleaning and personal hygiene items. The Community Pantry offers a sustainable and long-term way to help people make ends meet.
Accepting donations.
To receive items: The pantry is open to families living in Westminster.
To sign up for the Community Pantry, please register as a member of the Abbey Centre, then contact us at pantry@theabbeycentre.org.uk or 020 7222 0303.
Opening times:
Wednesday: 9am-1pm
Friday: 9am-1pm
Contact email: pantry@theabbeycentre.org.uk
Contact phone: 020 7222 0303
Westminster Food Bank
Address: Westminster Chapel, Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6BS
Food is donated by church members and local people (e.g. schools, businesses and charities) and stored. Volunteers sort and pack the food into food parcels. We partner with front-line care professionals, who identify people in crisis and issue them with a voucher.
Accepting donations.
To receive items: Individuals must be referred by one of the following organisations:
- Citizens Advice Westminster, 21a Conduit Place, London W2 1HS, Tel 0808 278 7834
- The Cardinal Hume Centre, Pimlico (families and young people), Medway Street, London SW1P 2BG, Tel: 020 7227 1673
- St Vincent’s Family Project (Families only), Methodist Central Hall Storey’s Gate, London, Tel: 020 7654 5352.
- Local Support Payments (For residents living in Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea or Westminster) Tel: 020 7745 6464.
Opening times: Open to receive donations on Mondays and Thursdays between 9am-3.30pm.
Contact email: foodbank@westminsterchapel.org.uk
Contact phone: 020 7834-1731 ext.224.
North Paddington Foodbank
Address: 57 Goldney Rd, London, W9 2AR
Our core offering is to support our local residents in need with access to money advice, and emergency income in the form of supermarket food vouchers. We are the only service to be offering this form of support in Westminster, and since moving to a ‘Cash First’ model at the start of November last year, it’s proved hugely popular, and we have been able to give households more control and dignity to choose and buy their own food.
Accepting cash donations only.
To receive items: Individuals must be referred by one of the following organisations.
- Citizen’s Advice Bureau for anyone experiencing financial difficulty – call Freephone 0808 278 7834
- Age UK, for people over 50yrs – call 020 3004 5610, or E-mail: enquiries@ageukwestminster.org.uk
- Asylum Aid for migrants and asylum seekers – call 020 3004 5610, or E-mail: enquiries@ageukwestminster.org.uk
- Community Living Well for all Westminster residents – call 020 3317 4200 (Wellbeing services including benefits, debt and employment advice)
- Shelter Westminster for people with housing difficulties – call 0344 515 1540 between the hours of 9:30am – 6:00pm, Monday to Friday
- Cardinal Hume Centre for people with children – Call between 09:30 and 13:30, Mon-Fri on 0207 227 1673 or email info@cardinalhumecentre.org.uk
- The Passage for people who are homeless – call 020 7592 1850 or email clients@passage.org.uk (open Monday – Friday, 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 3:30pm)
- Carers Network for unpaid carers – call 020 8960 3033, Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm or email info@carers-network.org.uk
- Nucleus Legal and Debt Advice Service – Call between 10am – 4pm Mon-Fri on 020 7373 4005 or email info@nucleus.org.uk
Opening times: Open to receive donations on Mondays and Thursdays between 9am-3.30pm.
Contact email: support@npfoodbank.org
Contact phone: 07932 623443
Westminster Cost of Living Hub
Further information and resources around cost of living support for Westminster residents can be found on Westminster City Council’s website.
