Cost of Living Support

Food support

Food Partnership Network – includes a timetable of daily food support in Islington.

Help on Your Doorstep – if you are finding it hard to get or pay for essential supplies, HOYD may be able to help so contact. HOYD works with Islington Foodbank to issue food bank vouchers. When you receive your food bank voucher, HOYD will also book you a time slot to visit the food bank. This will allow our volunteers to prepare your parcel of three days of emergency food in advance. It will also enable them to limit the number of clients visiting at once, keeping everyone safer. 

Hive Foodbank in N19 is open to voucher holders only. If you would like a voucher to get food from the foodbank please contact HOYD. The foodbank also needs donations to keep being able to help people. 

St Lukes Community Centre offers support to people living in St Luke’s area of benefit (primarily EC1 residents). Call 020 7549 8181 from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday – Friday or email info@slpt.org.uk. 

Mildmay Community Centre foodbank has become a co-op. The co-op is run every Friday from Mildmay Community Centre, Woodville Road, N16 8NA. The fees are £1.00 per person in your household, including children. Please contact the centre on 020 7249 8286, or email Lorraine on lorrainefood4communities@mildmaycp.org.uk. If you do not have access to a telephone or email, or are from our homeless community, you can visit the centre on Friday between 11{30am and 1:30pm to discuss your needs and how they can help. 

Brickworks Food Bank runs every Tuesday and Wednesday 12:00pm to 3:00pm from Brickworks Community Centre. Alongside food parcels, they try to provide other and non-essential and essential items for adults and children. To apply, complete the application form – you will need to provide proof of address and income, and email to admin@hanleycrouch.org.uk.  If you are eligible, they will provide one food bank per week.  Also, if you are unable to collect at the centre, they will do their best to have your food bag delivered to you. You can contact the centre on 020 7263 1067.  

Foodbank at Clerkenwell – open to all, and runs between 11:00am and 4:00pm every Thursday.

Elizabeth House The pop-up food store opens every Tuesday from Elizabeth House Community Centre. Contact them on 020 7690 1300 or info@elizabeth-house.org.uk.  if you need help and live in one of the following postcodes: N5 1, N5 2, N4 2, N4 3 and N7 7

The Arc Centre Foodbank provides food packages to those in the neighbourhood who can’t afford to buy food. The boxes feature healthy essentials, with plenty of fresh produce, wholefood ingredients and store cupboard ingredients. The boxes feature healthy essentials, enough food for 3-4 days’ meals. The foodbank operates on Tuesday 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm and 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm by appointment only (local residents or those where this is the local foodbank). Contact them on 020 7683 1281 or hello@thearccentre.org. You can find them at 98b St Paul Street, London, N1 7DF.  

Copenhagen Street Foodbank Downstairs at the Blessed Sacrament Church, Copenhagen Street, London N1 0SR. This foodbank operates Thursdays from 1:00pm – 3:30pm. No referral is needed for newcomers, just pop in and register. You will receive food parcels for your household with a selection of non-perishable food items and fresh produce. You can contact them on copenhagenstreetfoodbank@gmail.com. 

Hare Krishna Food for All offers a free hot vegetarian meal from 2:00pm to 4:00pm daily to take away from the white van at York Way next to Kings Cross train station. Contact foodforalluk@gmail.com. 

Ringcross Community Centre Foodbank operates Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 12:00pm to 4:00pm.  They offer fresh fruit, vegetables, bread, cakes, dry goods, tinned goods, ambient food, fresh meats); cooked meals; cleaning products; personal hygiene products, nappies, incontinence pads. They also offer educational materials, books, toys for children; Warm clothing and small electrical appliances. Open to anyone and/or any family over the age of 18 and are resident in Islington and can prove their address. Contact on 07707 932 761. 

Cook for Good members pay £3.50 each week, then come in on a Thursday and choose a basket of food worth between £15 and £25. There is a range of fresh, frozen and store cupboard ingredients available, and you’ll be able to make choices based on what your household likes.  Complete the registration form on their website and a community coordinator will follow up with a more detailed registration form. Contact by phone at 020 3633 4025 or email info@cookforgood.uk if you have any questions or issues.  

Hilldrop Community Centre runs a Tuesday Lunch Club every week during term time. From 12{15pm – 2:00pm you can pick up a free healthy lunch. For more information email elaine@hilldrop.org.uk or call 020 7607 9453.

Foodcycle provides free meals every Wednesday at 1:00pm at New River Baptist Church and on Saturdays at 1:00pm in Finsbury Park Community Hub.  

Street Kitchen provides daily outreaches across London. Hot food, drinks and treats beside Archway tube station, 7:00pm on Fridays and Sundays.

Bags of Taste is a comprehensive programme that gives residents the head start to a better diet and healthier finances through mentored home cooking courses and food delivery. For more information email islington@bagsoftaste.org or contact Justin on 07986 042 458.

Olio – Free food app where you can source local food from individuals and supermarkets.

Jenny Can Cook – How to make no-knead bread.

Georgina Bisby – How to grow vegetables indoors without any equipment.

Good Gym – Local volunteers who can do more than shopping and collecting meds so please consider: changing lightbulbs, moving furniture. It’s free and volunteers are all DBS checked. Referrals must come from Mind.

Margins Homeless Project – Food takeaway for people in crisis Monday 11am – 1pm; Wednesday 11am – 1pm from Union Chapel, 19b Compton Terrace, N1 2UN. Phone 020 7226 1686

Hornsey Lane Estate CA – Hot meals to take away on Saturdays 12-2 from Hazellville Rd, N19 3YJ. Phone 0207 272 5938

Sweet Potato Soul – Simple vegan cooking on YouTube.

Jack Monroe – Cooking on a budget.

London Homeless Info – Check site for updates on where to get free meals, clothes and showers.

Essential supplies

The Resident Support Scheme provided by Islington Council may be able help if you are finding it difficult to find money for food or gas and electricity. You can also apply if you have no recourse to public funds. They can provide vouchers for food, fuel costs and in exceptional cases clothing. Send an email with your contact information and details about your situation to the RSS team at ResidentSupportTeam@islington.gov.uk. 

Thames Water Priority Services Register helps Thames Water identify residents who are in priority need in the event of problems with water supply. If you have a pre-existing health condition or mobility issue, or nobody can deliver water, you should join their register.

Fashion and Textile Children’s Trust may be able to help if you’re struggling to make ends meet and you have worked in the fashion and textile industry for one year during the last nine years. Their grants can fund items for your children such as clothing, bedding and essential household items. 

MerryGoRound is a community project based in North London that provides free bundles of pre-loved children’s clothes, shoes and books, generously donated by local families. Contact hello@merrygoroundUK.org