Emergency Food

Are you struggling to pay for food? Below are local organisations that can help if you need food in an emergency.

Local Support

Here are local organisations and volunteer groups that can provide practical support.

Lambeth Mutual Aid

Lambeth Mutual Aid is a volunteer-led group supporting Lambeth residents. Their monthly Solidarity Fund offers people in financial need £30 for essentials like food and fuel. If the Solidarity Fund is closed, sign up to be notified when it reopens. They can also provide other practical support.

MyCommunity Gateway

MyCommunity Gateway can help if you need food, help with claiming benefits, etc. They can issue food bank vouchers. AgeUK Lambeth runs this service for anyone aged over 18 years old.

Trussell Trust Food Banks: How They Work

Waterloo Food Bank and Norwood & Brixton Food Bank run the Trussell Trust food banks in Lambeth.

You need an electronic voucher code to receive food from them. Please make sure you get a voucher code in plenty of time. Here are some ways to get a voucher code:

  • Call Citizen’s Advice on 0808 208 2138, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.
  • Call MyCommunity Gateway, 0333 360 3700, Monday to Friday 9.30am-4.30pm.
  • Contact Brixton Advice Centre, Centre 70, Citizen's Advice Merton & Lambeth
  • Another referral agency may be able to issue the voucher code. (E.g., doctor, health visitor, social worker, advice centre, police, children’s centre, etc.)
  • The referral agency will give the voucher code and your contact details to the food bank.
  • The food bank will contact you to find out what food you need and to organise delivery.

Trussell Trust Food Banks

As well as emergency food, each food bank provides a warm space, advice on benefits, money management, form filling, grant applications, signposting, and more.

Norwood & Brixton Food Bank: Brixton Hill Hub

Home delivery or in-person collection of free food parcels, depending on your situation. Food bank voucher required.

Norwood & Brixton Food Bank: Streatham Common Hub

Home delivery or in-person collection of free food parcels, depending on your situation. Food bank voucher required.

Norwood & Brixton Food Bank: Vauxhall Hub

Home delivery or in-person collection of free food parcels, depending on your situation. Food bank voucher required.

Norwood & Brixton Food Bank: West Dulwich Hub

Home delivery or in-person collection of free food parcels, depending on your situation. Food bank voucher required.

Waterloo Food Bank: Oasis Centre

Home delivery or in-person collection of free food parcels, depending on your situation. Food bank voucher required.

Waterloo Food Bank: St. George the Martyr

Home delivery or in-person collection of free food parcels, depending on your situation. Food bank voucher required.

Independent Food Banks

Voluntary and community groups run many of the services listed below. They aim to respond within 48 hours. Please make sure you contact them in plenty of time.

Olive Branch Aid

Free food parcels, clothing, other essential items, well-being, advice, and support. Monthly collection from their centre. You can self-refer to register. Photo ID and proof of address required.

SWAN Food Bank

Free, monthly, food parcels and support. Please collect. Delivery for vulnerable or elderly people. Photo ID and proof of address needed to register. You can self-refer.

VGCC Food Bank

Free food parcels and care items. Collection only. No voucher needed, just turn up.

Other Emergency Food

Copef Training Skills - African Emergency Hub

Free food parcels weekly for people in need. Collection only. No voucher needed, just turn up.

Oasis Community Fridge

Anyone can collect free, surplus food, or donate. Local businesses can donate food surplus too.

Portuguese Community Centre

Free surplus food/groceries for people in need. Phone or email to register. Collection only.

Rastafari Movement Wellbeing UK

Provides free groceries with cultural foods. Food deliveries with doorstep befriending, guidance, and wellbeing support in Lambeth on a 2-weekly rota. £4 contribution is encouraged. Can issue food bank vouchers. Phone or email to register.

Eating Together & Hot Food

Be Enriched Clapham Canteen

Weekly, free, 3-course lunch and chat.

Foodcycle

Enjoy company with others from your local area over a free, delicious meal, prepared with care by FoodCycle volunteers.

Everyone is welcome, no matter your background or circumstances. No referral needed, just turn up.

HTC Breakfast Club

Free hot breakfast, plus advice and social support.

Open Door

Free hot lunch, tea, coffee, and cake. Lunch served at 12.30pm.

Platform Café Community Food Service

Free vegetarian meals and hot drinks for people in need in the Loughborough Junction area. Limited to one meal and one hot drink per person each week. Visit or email to reserve a meal. Collection only.

Share Community Café

Freshly cooked and free meals for anyone in need in the community. Ready packaged meals to take-away. Vegetarian and meat options. No referral needed, just turn up.

  • Monday Tuesday & Thursday 11.30am-3.30pm
  • Black Prince Trust Community Food Hub 5 Beaufoy Walk, off Black Prince Road, London, SE11 6AA
  • 07549 367 039

St. Peter's Breakfast Club

Free, weekly, breakfast café, open to anyone in Vauxhall who needs it. Visit St. Peter’s Vauxhall website for details or to volunteer. All welcome.

The Lunch Club

Cooked lunches for £1 in a warm, friendly space in Streatham. You can either take away or eat in and socialise with others.

  • Tuesday 12-2pm (from 13th Feb)
    Friday 12-2pm
  • Woodlawns Centre, 16 Leigham Court Road, London, SW16 2PL
  • thelunchclub.org.uk

Homeless Day Centres & Outreach

Ace of Clubs

Supports homeless people. Take away and dine-in lunch served (£1 contribution encouraged). Just turn up.

Ace of Clubs can link people to accommodation, welfare, rehab, training, healthcare, etc. Advice service by appointment.

Bright Morning Star Outreach

Prison and homeless outreach. Free food, activities and support (including IT) for those in need. Just turn up.

Bright Morning Star Outreach: Brixton

Prison and homeless outreach. Free food, counselling, IT training, and support for those in need. Please phone or text to book.

Manna Day Centre

Supports homeless people. Free breakfast, lunch and other services available. Just turn up.

Refugee Community Kitchen

Free, take-away, hot food for anyone displaced or in need. Just turn up.

SWAN Soup Kitchen Clapham

Free food for anyone in need.

Spires Centre: West Norwood

Supports homeless people: Rough sleeper drop-In with free breakfast, etc.

Streets Kitchen Clapham Common

Free, take-away, hot food for anyone homeless or in need. Located on the grass near Joe’s Pizza /opposite Waitrose.

Streets Kitchen Stockwell

Free, take-away food for anyone homeless or in need. Located next to Sainsbury’s Local, opposite Stockwell tube station entrance.

The Spires Centre

Supports homeless people. Free breakfast, etc.

Rough sleeper drop-in: Monday & Thursday 9am-11.30am

Women only drop-in for vulnerable women: Wednesday 10am-12.30pm

  • Monday & Thursday
    Wednesday: women only
  • St Leonard’s Church, 8 Tooting Bec Gardens, SW16 1RB
  • 020 8696 0943
  • spires.org.uk

Webber Street Day Centre

Supports homeless people. Free breakfast and other services available.

  • Monday to Thursday & Saturday 8.30-9.15am (breakfast served)
    Friday drop-in session 9am-12pm (no breakfast)
  • 6-8 Webber Street, Waterloo, London, SE1 8QA
  • 0207 928 1677
  • webberstreet.org.uk