Lidl St Neots Cambridge St

We are Diamond Hampers, we are dedicated to supporting and helping the most vulnerable in society. We provide food aid to vulnerable families and individuals across Cambridgeshire by supplying food parcels filled with enough to provide meals for a whole week. We support local hostels by supplying them with trays of fresh food items and products ideal for those sleeping on our streets. We support rough sleepers by supplying them with hot meals, snacks, warm clothing, bedding and by helping them to seek the support they need from the relevant services. We provide toys, books, clothing, toiletries and even help to source second hand furniture for those families and individuals that are living in poverty. We support young care leavers and newly housed rough sleepers by providing them with start-up kits to help them at the beginning of their new journey. We supply lots of goodies regularly to various care homes and temporary living facilities across the county and regularly send out “top up bags” and “care packages” for struggling families. Our ethos is to redirect as much food waste as possible but also around the sustainability of people and their families. With this in mind, we make referrals with and for the beneficiaries. We help them to develop longer term solutions to enable them to better sustain their own lives. We promote independence and bridge dignity gaps by providing places and spaces for affordable shopping and access to the essentials in life.

In an ideal world there would be absolutely no need for Red Hen to exist. But the world that we live in has named Cambridge as ‘the least equal city in the UK’. In this, our 20th year, there is even more need for us to exist than when we began. Our family workers manage large and ever-changing caseloads and deal with more and more complex issues as families face such difficult and uncertain times. Red Hen was founded on the belief that education is crucial in breaking the cycle of poverty that can exist in the socially and economically deprived area that we serve. We have always been about removing barriers to learning and working to forge good relationships between home and school. Our schools can make referrals knowing that practical assistance and expert advice will be available quickly, and delivered with sensitivity and understanding. It is no secret that there is significant pressure on all of our social care system. We provide a crucial way in for families to find the support and help they need when in times of difficulty. Ideally before things escalate to a crisis. That is our strength – early, practical, expert support when and where it is needed. The real strength of the project, of course, lies in its staff - their accessibility, their focus on listening and encouraging, their non-judgemental practical help and advice. All hugely valued by families and schools in all of our evaluations. And they do it with sensitivity, warmth and genuine care.

We will collect surplus food from M&S and distribute to our elderly clients who attend the Charity's Day Centre for three days a week.