Last updated: 4th November 2024
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Mondays
Margins Project at Union Chapel N1 2UN
Drop-in session for people facing homelessness. Sit down meal, takeaways, hot showers & laundry. 11am-1pm. Mondays 11:00am to 1:00pm 19B Compton Terrace N1 2UN
Caxton House N19 3RQ
From 12.30 on Mondays, surplus bread and cakes in reception when available
Muslim Welfare House N4 2DA
Giving out hot meals 2pm Mondays. 233 Seven Sisters Rd N4 2DA
Tuesdays
Elizabeth House
Pop-up food store, £3. Tuesdays. For residents in: N4 2, N4 3, N5 1, N5 2, N7 7 Register: 02076901300 info@elizabeth-house.org.uk
Hilldrop Community Centre N7 0JE
Free hot lunch served at 12.30 for residents of N7 & local Hilldrop Estates. Term-time only
Holloway SDA Church N7 0RN
Food bank. Tuesdays 12to 2pm
Mildmay Community Centre N16 8Na
Soup and stew day. Hot bowl of soup or stew. Meat or vegetable option. Donations-based. Tuesdays 12.30pm to 2pm
The Peel Centre EC1R 0HU
Free ready meals. Queue from 12:45 on Wednesdays
Tuesdays and Wednesdays
St Luke’s Food Hub EC1V 8AJ
Food hub Tuesdays and Wednesdays 1:30 to 3:30pm for some EC1 area (please call to check eligibility) 0207549 8181 / info@slpt.org.uk
Tuesdays,Wednesdays and Thursdays
St Giles Pantry N7 9GJ
Community pantry, £3.50 per visit. Tuesdays 2 to 4pm. Wednesdays 9:45am to 4pm. Thursdays 9:45am to 12:30pm and then 2 to 4pm. By appointment only. To seek a referral, contact St Giles or visit www.stgilestrust.org.uk/how-to-get-support/
Wednesdays
The Peel Centre EC1R 0HU
Fresh food available. Queue from 12:45pm on Wednesdays
Hornsey Lane Community Centre N19 3YJ
Giving out surplus food on Wednesdays 10:30 to 2pm at Hornsey Lane N19 3YJ. 020 7272 5938
Brickworks Community Centre
Drop-in for food parcels Tuesdays and Wednesdays 12pm to 3pm. For people in local area (N4). 42 Crouch Hill N4 4BY. colin.adams@hanleycrouch.org.uk / 0207 263 1067 On other days, can provide emergency food bags (subject to availability), contact reception.
Margins Project at Union Chapel N1 2UN
Drop-in session for people facing homelessness. Sit down meal, takeaways, hot showers & laundry. 11am-1pm. Mondays 11:00am to 1:00pm 19B Compton Terrace N1 2UN
Manor Gardens Centre N7 6LA
Food co-op. Take what you need for £3 (usually £20 worth of shopping). Wednesdays 10:45am to 12pm. 9 Manor Gardens, N7 6LA.
FoodCycle Islington N1 2TL
Free hot meal, Wednesdays 1pm New River Baptist Church, N1 2TL. No need to book!
The Ringcross Community Foodbank, N7 8RH
Food parcels, meals and essential items. Wednesdays, 12pm to 4pm. Open to residents of Holloway, Laycock, Caledonian Wards and hydep Housing Estates (proof of address needed), as well as people who are sleeping rough 07563256537 www.rcfb.info
The Hive Foodbank N19 3AD
Wednesdays 6.30 to 8.30pm. Referral needed. 020 7916 2710. hivefoodbank@gmail.com
Saint George’s N7 0ND
Free Hot lunch. Wednesdays 10.30am to 1pm (lunch 12 to 1pm)
Holloway SDA Church N7 0RN
Haven Cafe 12 to 2pm on Wednesdays. Advice, activities + free lunch (at 1.30pm)
Muslim Welfare House N4 2DA
Giving out hot meals on Wednesdays 2pm. 233 Seven Sisters Rd N4 2DA
Thursdays
Mildmay Community Centre, Woodville road N16 8NA
Community Cook-up. Free shared meal (donations welcome). Meat or vegetarian option. Thursdays. Cooking activity: 9.30am to 12.30pm. Food served: 12.30pm to 1.30pm
Hillside Clubhouse. 30 North Road, N7 9GJ
Hearty Thursdays project 12:30 – 3pm. Giving out free meals, hand-cooked by their members for the community. Halal, Kosher & vegetarian options available
Copenhagen Street Foodbank. N1 0SR.
Weekly foodbank, Thursdays 1pm to 3:30pm. Fresh food and non-perishable items. 02078378378. Email: copenhagenstreetfoodbank@gmail.com
Fridays
Mildmay Community Centre, N16 8NA
Weekly food co-op for residents of Mildmay ward. £1 per person in household. Register:mildmaycp@gmail.com or 020 7249 8286. If you don’t have access to a phone or email, feel free to go to the centre Fridays 11.30am to 1.30pm
Andover Surplus Food Project
Free – choose 5 items. Open to residents of Finsbury Park Ward. Andover Community Centre, N7 7RY. 1:30pm. 020 7272 3493 or andovercc@islington.gov.uk
St Mary’s Church & The Hive Foodbank. N19 3AD
Cook Together Drop-In. Learn to make cheap, easy & tasty meals. All ingredients provided. Fridays 3 to 5.30pm.
Hargrave Hall N19 5SP
Food pantry with fresh + non-perishable food at 2-7pm. Free dinner at 5pm. Drop in. All welcome.
Weekends
Choices CiC
African Caribbean Cultural Food Co-op. Pay a membership fee of £5 in return for £20 – £25 worth of Afro-Caribbean foods. First Saturday of every month at 2pm. Caxton House N19 3RQ. If you are on low or no income, please contact us about joining: info@choiceslondoncic.com
FoodCycle Finsbury Park
Free 3 course vegetarian meal. Saturdays 1pm onwards. Community Hub, Corker Walk, N7 7RY. No need to book!
Other services:
Bags of Taste
free, mentored at-home cooking course to make low-cost, nutritious meals. Ingredients provided for free and delivered to your house. Open to all Islington residents. Contact: islington@bagsoftaste.org or 07986042458
Hornsey Lane community centre, N19:
Family Cook and share: Wednesdays 10am to 2pm
Free Lunch Clubs for people over 55. Thursdays 12-2 New Orleans Hall, New Orleans Estate N19 3TH. Saturdays, 12-4 at Hornsey Lane Estate Community Centre N19 3YJ
St Luke’s Community Centre, EC1V 8AJ:
Over 55s Lunch Club for Islington residents offering low cost freshly cooked lunches on-site. 90 Central St, EC1V 8AJ. Monday to Friday 12-2pm
Elizabeth House Community Centre N5 1ED:
Blue House Club (over 50s club). Every Wednesday (term-time only). Chair Yoga 11am, free hot lunch at 12pm, followed by an activity
Islington Mind
Communal warm spaces and a variety of activities, including cooking classes and communal meals, specifically for residents experiencing mental health challenges. Referral needed. For more information visit: www.islingtonmind.org.uk or contact 02033019850
Healthy Start Vouchers
Get support to buy food and milk. Regular payments of up to £8.50 per child per week are automatically loaded onto a prepaid card to be used in shops. Open to women/people at least 10 weeks pregnant or families with a child under 4 years and receiving:
• Universal Credit with total family earned income of £408 or less (after tax) per month
• Child Tax Credit with a family income no more than £16,190 per year
Complete application online: www.healthystart.nhs.uk/how-to-apply/
You may also be eligible if you receive:
• Income support
• Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
• Pension Credit (including child addition)
Or if you’re pregnant and:
• under 18
• receiving Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• receiving Child Tax Credit but don’t also have a child under 4
Apply by email healthy.start@nhsbsa.nhs.uk or phone 0300 330 7010
Call Family Support (02075278376) for any application concerns
Bright start Islington
A range of services supporting children under 5s and their families across Islington, including baby feeding information and support. For more information call: 02075275959 www.islington.gov.uk/brightstart
Join or start a food co-op
Food co-ops are groups of neighbours who buy food together to save money. By being in a food co-op, you could save up to 40% on your weekly groceries. To find out more and for guides and resources on how to start a co-op, visit: https://cooperation.town/
Find your nearest food co-op by contacting co-operation town here: https://cooperation.town/contact/
Cooperate Girdlestone: Girdlestone Community centre, 11am to 2pm Wednesdays. Open to new members!