The Co-operative Food - Romsey, Warren Gardens

We set up our food banks 28 yrs ago and our Marketplaces 4 years ago. We have 5 food, 1 clothing bank and 4 Marketplaces. The Banks provide emergency support to those in need. Our Marketplaces is a community food membership scheme for local people. Our Banks operate an online system referral agents can use to refer clients. There is a network of over 2000 individual agents able to refer to us now. In 2023we gave out 4 days of food 21,765 times and clothed 2,153 people with x4 outfits. We do all this free of charge through working co-operatively with supermarkets, charities, business and churches across the city to make it happen. SCM Marketplaces have been designed to complement our existing emergency food and clothes project. For a weekly £5 membership subscription, Marketplace members can come on the day their Marketplace is open, use the members café, chat to members and volunteers, talk to any visiting advice agencies, and choose around 13 items from the fridges, freezers, fresh fruit and veg, bakery, ambient food products and toiletries.

For over 40 years, Romsey Family Support Group (RFSG) has been offering a lifeline to families in and around Romsey who are living in relative poverty or facing difficult circumstances. We provide a safe, supportive space where parents and children can find help, understanding, and community. We support families facing a wide range of challenges, including domestic violence, postnatal depression, isolation, low self-esteem, debt, and managing children’s behaviour. By offering preventative support, we aim to stop families from reaching crisis point. Families can be referred by health visitors, GPs, children’s services, or families can simply self-refer. Our community creche, for children aged 0–5, is run by dedicated volunteers. This space gives parents much-needed respite, along with the chance to talk through problems and build friendships. We signpost families to essential services such as Romsey Foodbank, Solicitors, and Christians Against Poverty. Beyond day-to-day support, we organise guest speakers and family outings. Thanks to generous donations, we also provide food, clothing, books, toys, and equipment, saving families thousands of pounds each year. RFSG is almost entirely funded through the kindness of local organisations, businesses, and individuals and we provide our services to families at no cost to them.

Those in need of food are recommended to us by Social Services and similar agencies/professionals. We aim to deliver to the recipients' homes each week sufficient food for 2 basic meals per day. This continues normally for 4 weeks, but can be extended - we are need led. We operate totally with volunteers, who freely provide their own transport. We have no administration costs and proudly confirm that every penny of financial donations are used to purchase food. Currently, we are delivering to 50-60 households per week, mainly in the Southampton area.