Help with food
As the cost of living increases, it can be hard to afford food. This page lists food banks, food pantries and other kinds of food help available in Southwark.
Southwark Free School Meals
Any pupil who is eligible for benefits-related free school meals will receive a free meal, funded by the government, during term time. In Southwark, any nursery and primary school pupil not eligible for benefits-related free school meals is also able to get a free meal, during term time, via the Southwark free healthy school meal offer. Some secondary school pupils can now also access free school meals during term time.
Check your eligibility and apply for free school meals
Southwark Food Action Alliance's food map
Southwark Food Action Alliance's food map provides information on a variety of low-cost and free food services across Southwark.
Southwark Food Action Alliance's food map
This map is independent of Southwark Council and we cannot verify that the information on it is accurate
Healthy Start Scheme
Get help to buy fruit, vegetables and milk if you’re on a low income, pregnant or have a child under 4 years old.
Visit the Healthy Start website
Rose Vouchers to buy fruit and vegetables
The Rose Vouchers for Fruit & Veg Project helps pregnant women and families with children under five years old who live in SE1, SE5, SE15 and SE17 on low incomes or No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) to buy fresh fruit and vegetables.
Help to get food if you cannot afford or access it
Get help if you cannot afford to buy food or can’t access food by applying to crisis support and finding ways to increase the money you have or by using local food banks, community pantries or low-cost food options.
Visit our Getting food help if you can't access it webpage
Southwark’s food and fun holiday programme
Our Food and Fun holiday programme supports families during the Easter, summer and winter school holidays to access free, healthy food and fun enriching activities.
It is for children aged between four and 16 years old who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals and those with no recourse to public funds.
Children can take part in a wide range of holiday activities. They also get a healthy meal and snack each day and recipe-kit boxes over the summer so they can cook nutritious meals at home.
Visit our Food and Fun holiday programme webpage
Community fridges
Community fridges help people and local businesses share food, rather than letting it go to waste.
Find your nearest community fridge.
The Food Bus
The Food Bus is a double-decker bus that stops in different parts of London and offers groceries and cupboard items at affordable prices.
Find out the food bus times and locations
Food banks
Food banks are run by community organisations. They collect donations of non-perishable food and give it out as emergency aid to members of the public who are experiencing financial hardship and food insecurity, or people who have no recourse to public funds.
How to use a food bank
You usually need to be referred by an organisation to use food bank services. You can contact our Southwark Community Support Alliance who will support you with referrals to local food banks.
The Southwark Community Support Alliance will be able to organise food banks or shopping help and can link you up to help and support the community.
Pecan food banks
Pecan works using a voucher referral system. To get help from one of Pecan’s food banks, you will need a voucher issued by a local agency before arriving at a centre.
- email foodbank.support@pecan.org.uk or call 020 7732 0007
Spring Community Hub food banks
Spring Community Hub works on a voucher referral system. Visit the Spring Community Hub website for more information.
Foursquare Church
- 117 Walworth Road SE17 1RW (open in Google Maps)
- opening times Mondays 1pm to 3pm
- email office@springcommunityhub.org or call 07901 617 189
New Covenant Church
- 506 to 510 Old Kent Road, SE1 5BA (open in Google Maps)
- opening times Tuesdays 12 noon to 2pm
- email office@springcommunityhub.org or call 07901 617 189
St Paul's Church
- 4 Lorrimore Square, SE17 3QU (open in Google Maps)
- opening times Wednesdays 11.30am to 1.30pm
- email office@springcommunityhub.org or call 07901 617 189
Spring Community Hub - Wilson Road
- 1 Wilson Road, Modular Building, SE5 8LU (open in Google Maps)
- opening times Thursdays and Fridays 10am to 1pm
- email office@springcommunityhub.org or call 07901 617 189
Food pantries
Food pantries are shops that provide low-cost food. To use a food pantry you need to become a member. Members can buy a variety of healthy foods at a subsidised price. Membership tends to cost around £4 per shop, which allows you to get around £15 of food.
Peckham Pantry, Peckham Park Road (Pecan)
- 49-53 Peckham Park Road, SE15 6TU (open in Google Maps)
- opening times Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am to 4pm, Tuesday 11am to 4pm and Thursday 10am to 7pm
- email pantry@pecan.org.uk or phone 020 7277 7075
Peckham Pantry, St Luke's Church (Pecan)
- St Luke’s Church, Chandler Way, SE15 6DT (open in Google Maps)
- opening times Wednesdays 11am to 3pm
- email pantry@pecan.org.uk or phone 020 7277 7075
Love North Southwark: Bermondsey Pantry
- 4-5 Slippers Place, Gataker Street SE16 2EN (open in Google Maps)
- opening times Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm (by appointment only)
- email lovenorthsouthwark@outlook.com or phone 07730 465 160
The Borough Food Co-operative
- St George the Martyr Church, Borough High Street SE1 1JA (open in Google Maps)
- opening times Tuesday 12noon to 3pm, Thursday 10am to 3pm and Saturday 1pm to 4pm
- email food@stgeorge-themartyr.co.uk or phone 020 7357 7331
Paxton Green time bank: Paxton Pantry
- Unit 32 Seeley Drive, Kingswood Estate SE21 8QR (open in Google Maps)
- opening times Tuesdays 12 noon to 4pm
- email food@stgeorge-themartyr.co.uk
Free food (meals, cafés and apps)
Hope Tuesday Café
Open to all, tea, coffee and hot meals served at 1pm (cold buffet-style food served during periods of hot weather). Social activity including quizzes planned after lunch with tea, coffee and cake.
- City Hope Church, 121 Drummond Road, Bermondsey SE16 2JY (open in Google Maps)
- opening times Tuesdays 1pm to 3pm.
- email hello@cityhope.london or phone 020 7993 3934
All Saints Church Café
Open to all, the community café provides tea, coffee and cakes. Also other activities and free wi-fi.
- All Saints Church, 8 Blenheim Grove, Peckham SE15 4QS - The café is in the main church, not the hall (open in Google Maps)
- opening times Tuesdays 9.30am to 11am
- email hello@allsaintspeckham.org.uk or phone 020 3637 2701
- visit the All Saints Peckham website
Foodcycle Peckham
- All Saints Church Hall, 7 Blenheim Grove, Peckham SE21 8QR (open in Google Maps)
- opening times Wednesdays at 5pm and Saturdays at 5.30pm
- email peckham@foodcycle.org.uk or phone 020 7729 2775
- visit the Foodcycle Peckham website
Manna Centre
Open to all, especially people who are homeless. Provides breakfast and lunch (showers, clothing, housing, welfare advice and medical care also provided)
- 12 Melior Street, London Bridge SE1 3QP (open in Google Maps)
- opening times Monday to Sunday 8.30am to 1.30pm
- email mail@mannasociety.org.uk or phone 020 7357 9363
- visit the Manna Society website
The Castle Canteen
Open to all (free, but £1 donations are welcome). Community canteen; hot vegetarian meal cooked on site.
- Crossways Church Hall, 18 Hampton Street, SE17 3AL (open in Google Maps)
- opening times Mondays 1pm to 2.30pm
- email hello@be-enriched.org
- visit the Be-enriched canteen website
Webber Street Day Centre
For local rough sleepers and homeless people (aged 18+).
- 6-8 Webber Street, Waterloo SE1 8QA (open in Google Maps)
- opening times:
- breakfast Monday to Thursday and Saturday from 8.30am to 12 noon
- lunch Monday to Wednesday at 1pm
- clothing, toiletries and advice
- drop-in sessions on Fridays from 9am to 12noon
- closed first Wednesday of every month
- email wsenquiries@lcm.org.uk or phone 020 7928 1677
- visit the Webber Street Day Centre website
Walworth Living Room
Open to all, a warm welcome: cafe, community fridge and social activities. Some activities are free, others are low-cost. Please contact for more information.
- All Saints Hall, Surrey Square, Walworth SE17 2JU (open in Google Maps)
- opening times Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9am to 3pm.
- email info@pembrokehouse.org.uk or phone 020 7703 3808
- visit the Walworth Living Room website
Food for free using the Olio app
An app that allows you to connect with people giving away unwanted food for free. Find out more and download the app www.olioex.com
Page last updated: 06 December 2023