Food Support in Islington
Last updated: 27th November 2023
Mondays
Margins Project at Union Chapel N1 2UN
Drop-in session for people facing homelessness Hot food takeaway. 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
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 for residents of N7 and local Hilldrop Estates. 12:15 to 2pm on Tuesdays. Term-time only
Hornsey Lane Community Centre N19 3YJ
Giving out surplus food every Tuesday, 2:30 to 4:30pm at Hornsey Lane N19 3YJ 020 7272 5938
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
Tuesdays and Wednesdays
St Luke’s Food Hub EC1V 8AJ
Food hub Tuesdays and Wednesdays 1:30 to 3:30pm for EC1 residents, by appointment 0207549 8181 / info@slpt.org.uk / EC1V 8AJ
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)
Wednesdays
Margins Project at Union Chapel N1 2UN
Drop-in session for people facing homelessness Hot food takeaway. Wednesdays 11:00am-1:00pm 19B Compton Terrace N1 2UN
Manor Gardens Centre N7 6LA
Food co-op. Take what you need for £3. Wednesdays 10:45am-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 6.30-8.30pm. Referral needed. 020 7916 2710. hivefoodbank@gmail.com
Saint George’s N7 0ND
Free Hot lunch. Tuesdays 12 to 2.30pm. Term time
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.
St Mary’s Islington N1 2TX
Open House, free coffee morning and soup lunch. 10.30am to 1.30pm
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
Healthy Start Vouchers
Get support to buy milk or food. Payments are 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 four years and receiving:
• Universal credit with total earned income of £408 or less (after tax) per month for the family
• Child tax Credit with a family income no more than £16,190 per year
• Income support
• Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
• Pension Credit
• Income-related Employment and Support
Allowance (for pregnant people only)
• Or pregnant and under 18
Complete application online: www.healthystart.nhs.uk/how-to-apply/
Call Family Support Surgeries (020 7527 8376) for any application concerns
Bright start Islington
A range of services supporting under 5’s and their families across Islington. For more information call: 020 7527 5959 or visit www.islington.gov.uk/children-and-families/childrens-centres-and-under-5s
Join or start a food co-op
Food co-ops are groups of neighbours who buy food together to save money and support each others’ needs. By joining or starting 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-2pm Wednesdays. Open to new members!
Please note, this is not a comprehensive list of all food support available in Islington. For more information, visit: www.islingtonfoodpartnership.org.uk
Food Support in Islington
Last updated: 9th February 2023
Mondays
Margins Project at Union Chapel Drop-in session for people facing homelessness Hot food takeaway 11:00am-1:00pm 19B Compton Terrace N1 2UN
The Ringcross Community Foodbank, N7 8RH. Food parcels, meals and essential items. Mondays, 12pm to 4pm. Open to residents of Holloway, Laycock and Caledonian Wards (proof of address needed), as well as people who are sleeping rough 02077002498
Tuesdays
Elizabeth House Pop-up food store, £3 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 12:15 – 2pm Free hot lunch for residents of N7 and local Hilldrop Estates
Hornsey Lane Community Centre Giving out surplus food every Tuesday, 2:30-4:30pm at Hornsey Lane N19 3YJ 020 7272 5938
Tuesdays and Wednesdays
St Luke’s Food Hub 1:30-3:30pm for EC1 residents, by appointment 0207549 8181 / info@slpt.org.uk / EC1V 8AJ
Brickworks Community Centre Drop-in for food parcels 12pm-3pm. 42 Crouch Hill N4 4BY colin.adams@hanleycrouch.org.uk / 0207 263 1067 On other days, can provide emergency food bags (subject to availability)
Wednesdays
FoodCycle Islington Free hot meal, 1pm New River Baptist Church, N1 2TL. No need to book!
Manor Gardens Centre, Food co-op. Take what you need for £3. Wednesdays. 9 Manor Gardens, N7 6LA. 10:45am-12pm
The Hive Foodbank. Wednesdays, 6.30-8.30pm. 020 7916 2710. hivefoodbank@gmail.com
Margins Project at Union Chapel Drop-in session for people facing homelessness Hot food takeaway 11:00am-1:00pm 19B Compton Terrace N1 2UN
The Ringcross Community Foodbank, N7 8RH. Food parcels, meals and essential items. Wednesdays, 12pm to 4pm. Open to residents of Holloway, Laycock and Caledonian Wards (proof of address needed), as well as people who are sleeping rough 02077002498
Mildmay Community Centre, Woodville road N16 8NA. Wednesdays Winter Warmer. Food served 12:30-1:30pm
Thursdays
Copenhagen Street Foodbank. N1 0SR. Weekly foodbank, Thursdays 1pm-3:30pm. Fresh food and non-perishable items. 02078378378. Email: copenhagenstreetfoodbank@gmail.com
Mildmay Community Centre, Woodville road N16 8NA. Community Cook-up. Free shared meal (donations welcome). Thursdays. Cooking activity: 9.30am – 12.30pm. Food served: 12.30pm – 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
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 – 1.30pm
St Mary’s Church & The Hive Foodbank. N19 3AD. Cook Together Drop-In. Learn to make cheap, easy & tasty meals. All ingredients provided. Fridays 3.30-6pm.
The Ringcross Community Foodbank, N7 8RH. Food parcels, meals and essential items. Fridays, 12pm to 4pm. Open to residents of Holloway, Laycock and Caledonian Wards (proof of address needed), as well as people who are sleeping rough 02077002498
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
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:
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. Chair Yoga 11am, free hot lunch at 12pm, followed by an activity
Healthy Start Vouchers
Get support to buy milk or food. Payments are 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 four years and receiving:
• Universal credit with total earned income of £408 or less (after tax) per month for the family
• Child tax Credit with a family income no more than £16,190 per year
• Income support
• Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
• Pension Credit
• Income-related Employment and Support
Allowance (for pregnant people only)
• Pregnant and under 18
Complete application online: www.healthystart.nhs.uk/how-to-apply/
Bright start Islington
A range of services supporting under 5’s and their families across Islington. For more information call: 020 7527 5959 or visit www.islington.gov.uk/children-and-families/childrens-centres-and-under-5s
Join or start a food co-op
Food co-ops are groups of neighbours who buy food together to save money and support each others’ needs. By joining or starting 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-2pm Wednesdays. Open to new members!