M&S Hackney

Hackney priory parents live in supported accommodation aimed at providing services for young vulnerable parents / young people with complex needs/ young people with mental health needs, between the ages of 16 – 24 years old. One housing have merge with Riverside March 22, we are now One Housing part of Riverside – within the organisation I work with valuable young parents -who are referred by Hackney Social Services, there needs varies from Mental Health, Domestic abused, substance misuse – asylum seekers etc etc etc. We have a few sites in Hackney for young people with complex needs who also receive these donations. These young people we work with are on very low income who struggle day to day to manage their income/budget. Receiving donation helps these young people with managing on their low income, the donations are much appreciated by young people as most of the item which are donate would be unaffordable on their budget. Every Tuesday we run a young mother’s group to promote positive parenting, healthy relationships, positive mental health and well being, amongst other things. The young mothers are all on low incomes and would welcome any donations that are offered; we could also use donations to facilitate healthy cooking workshops and encourage budgeting their income accordingly. We have in the past received clothing items from charity organisation which is not ongoing. We do not collect any other donation from retailers. We do not work in the community all donations are handed out to Hackney Parents and Complex Needs within our Hackney organisation. We collect Customer donation from Lidi in Hackney 3 time a week with donations from Lidi. Thank you for your continuous support from your team

At Hackney Community Food Share, our mission is to reduce food insecurity and improve the well-being of our local community by redistributing surplus food donations. We are deeply committed to addressing the growing challenges caused by the rising cost of living and increasing food prices. We identified the need for food support by working closely with local charities, community organisations, and residents who highlighted the struggles faced by many, particularly vulnerable individuals who cannot access traditional food banks. Through these conversations, we shaped our service to ensure it reaches those who need it most. Every Friday, we distribute surplus food donations from Alf Partridge Community Hall, with additional home deliveries throughout the week for vulnerable residents who are unable to collect food in person. Our partnerships with The Felix Project, Volunteer Centre Hackney, The Hygiene Bank Stoke Newington, Hackney Food Network, and the Alf Partridge Hall Tenants and Residents Association have been crucial in expanding our reach. These collaborations allow us to provide essential food and toiletries, ensuring people in need receive the right support. The backing of local councillors, along with Hackney Council’s community volunteering support and grants, has also been invaluable in sustaining our work. In addition to food support, we provide regular food parcels to Mapledene Road Retirement Home, a supported living scheme for over-60s in Hackney. We also host a weekly coffee morning, offering a warm, welcoming space where local people can enjoy a hot drink, a biscuit or pastry, and connect with others. This initiative helps combat isolation, encourages community engagement, and provides signposting to local services. Over time, it has also inspired more local people to volunteer and actively contribute to their community. HCFS is a Neurodivergent-led group, and we understand firsthand the importance of the right support—especially for Neurodivergent parents raising children with additional needs. While our current focus is food distribution, our long-term vision is to develop a peer support network for Neurodivergent parents, creating a space where we can share experiences, offer advice, and support each other in a way that truly meets our needs. We believe in fostering greater acceptance and awareness of Neurodiversity and Neurodivergence in both the community and volunteering spaces. Our services are entirely free of charge, relying solely on donations and community support to continue operating. HCFS is more than just a food share—we are a community working together to create meaningful support networks and connections.

Community Food Hub is a project started by Hackney charity Children With Voices in light of COVID-19 to support the vulnerable, homeless, struggling families and the elderly in our community in this difficult time. We collect donation surplus food to feed and support our community. We support families and children who face holiday hunger, and who, now more then ever, are having a difficult time due to lack of food, lack of access to benefits or difficulty accessing the right support. We need volunteers to help run our Community Food Hubs – dropping of food to the vulnerable and the self isolating, collecting our food donations from various locations, and in the day-to-day running of our hubs. We run 2 hubs around Hackney and are providing 60+ packages weekly, some for large families with small children. These families need our support and are the most at risk and vulnerable in our community – those with children who are carers to their parents, those whose first language may not be English, those who are self-isolating, those with mental health problems. We help by providing them with what they need to survive. We support our local communities.