M&S Tonbridge

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.

We are an active church at the heart of our local community, committed to serving those around us in practical and meaningful ways. Our Foodbank currently supports over 100 individuals each week, including some vulnerable families and individuals. Every Tuesday, we distribute bags containing essential ambient food and personal hygiene products, alongside an increasing range of fresh food items to promote healthier living. This year marks our third season of running a Warm Hub. Every Wednesday lunchtime, we provide free homemade soup, rolls, dessert, and drinks. This initiative not only offers nutritious meals—often made from food that would otherwise go to waste—but also provides a welcoming space for local people to connect, especially during the colder months. The Warm Hub has grown in popularity, with visitor numbers steadily increasing. For young people, we run two key initiatives during term time. On alternate Fridays, we host a Youth Café for ages 10–18, offering free food, drinks, crafts, and games in a safe, supportive environment after school. We also run a fortnightly Youth Club for the same age group, with themed evenings such as animal encounters, movie nights, sports, drama, crafts, and shared meals. All of these initiatives are offered on a non-profit basis. At present, the church fully funds them, but in order to continue—and expand—these vital community services, we are actively seeking additional support and partnerships.

With the supply of perishable fruit and vegetables we aim to expand the provision of food in the food bank to encourage healthy eating and a higher intake of fresh food. The non-perishable food will be given out as food parcels as well as all produce being used in our community projects, Luncheon Club and The Day Centre for the elderly.