Our Mission
Our aim is to help alleviate suffering from hunger, poverty and loneliness.
Woodingdean Food Hub (WFH) sets out to support people in the community who are struggling financially, helping them to make their income stretch a little further. We ask for a contribution of £3.50 each visit with clients able to choose from a wide range of groceries, household goods and toiletries worth much more.
Our History
Woodingdean Food Hub was set up during the Covid-19 Pandemic as a way of providing essential food and supplies for those most vulnerable.
Once people were able to shop freely again, it became obvious that some still needed greater community support. The Food Hub continued by adopting a social supermarket model.
Where does the food come from?
Woodingdean Food Hub works in conjunction with FareShare, an organisation trying to reduce food waste and eliminate hunger.
FareShare works with more than 850 companies and food organisations across the supply chain – from farmers to hauliers, wholesalers to supermarkets, and brands big and small, including independent producers. Helping to get good-quality surplus food onto the plates of vulnerable people.
Food is also provided to us through donations from local shops, churches, schools, businesses, organisations and individuals.
We shop from supermarkets or wholesalers for regular staples not available from FareShare.
What is provided? Can client choose?
For a contribution of £3.50, clients can pick from a range of produce worth much more.
We try to ensure that we have key staples such as potatoes, bread, eggs, milk, fruits and vegetables.
We also offer tinned and packaged goods and a small selection of household essentials.
Meal ideas
Each week we provide recipe sheets together with the necessary components that can be made using the staple ingredients that we provide at the Food Hub. Recipes will often depend on what food we receive from FareShare and have available.
This is included in the £3.50 contribution.
Social Prescriber
We also host a monthly visit from the local social prescriber who helps to connect clients to activities, groups, and services in the community to meet the practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. Social prescribers work together to coproduce a personalised care and support plan and support people to take control of their health and wellbeing.
Who has access to their help?
Social prescribing is for all ages!
Our Volunteers
Volunteers at WFH are a truly inspirational bunch!
Volunteers come for all sorts of reasons and offer whatever time they can. Each person finds their niche and enriches the whole operation, whether it be shopping, making deliveries, serving clients, weighing out ingredients, welcoming donators or new clients, devising recipes or helping to set up and put away the food.
The WFH is a welcoming space, welcome to all.
The image below is an example of a Frittata recipe that can be made with some staple ingredients (potatoes, eggs, onions, tomatoes and peas).
