M&S Fountains Tunbridge Wells

Nourish is a registered charity operating in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas. We work with frontline agencies to determine the need and validity of each referral in order to supply short-term emergency food and supplies to those in crisis. People are referred to Nourish for a wide variety of reasons such as problems with benefits, domestic violence, low/delayed wages, debt and homelessness. In 2015-2016, 3,141 people in crisis in Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas were provided with three days' emergency food, 43% of whom were under 18. This was an increase of 34% YoY from 2014-2015 and we have again seen increased demand in 2016-2017 We work from our base at Big Yellow Self Storage in Tunbridge Wells where we store our food in three large storage units. Our volunteers pick and pack food bags three days a week and we have a dedicated team of volunteer drivers that distribute our bags directly to the homes of our beneficiaries.

Age UK Tunbridge Wells is an independent local charity working to help older people in our community remain supported and never forgotten. We believe ageing is a natural part of life, and that the later years of our lives should continue to be fulfilling, productive and enjoyable. Bringing people together to combat loneliness and foster a sense of community is such a brilliant way to make sure people over 55 in our borough continuing living life to its fullest.

The Community Larder started during Lockdown after hearing that the demand for the local food bank had increased by 100%. At the Community Larder people from the local community can visit weekly without the need for a referral from a professional body. The aim is that they will leave the community larder with a balanced bag of groceries ( and some treats!) in which they can make meals. We also provide personal hygiene products and baby care. With the increase in cost of living and many people struggling financially we have seen an increasing number of families/ individuals visiting the larder. This service provision within our community has been invaluable to so many individuals and families, it is something that is really needed, and as such the Community Larder will continue for as long as we can. We have been running for 2 and a half years now and hope to provide this service for many more.