GAIL's Bakery Victoria Park

We are a two form entry primary school and large nursery based in Finsbury Park, London. We want to make our school the best possible place it can be for our children. We want to decorate areas and develop our gardens and playgrounds. We want to develop more green spaces and get children involved in doing so. We also want to support our community and families through the cost of living crisis. We have a food bank within school which is very well utilised by many of our families.

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.

We are a not-for-profit company dedicated to supporting disadvantaged communities dealing with food poverty. Having partnered with a local school we are bringing a food pantry to our local community to support those affected by the cost of living. We collect and redistribute food in our community five times weekly to a school, a hostel, local community groups and a weekly community food outreach project. We support communities going through hardships, health and wellbeing issues by running projects to enable, inspire and empower individuals, families and also businesses. All of our projects are managed by individuals with personal life experience in the given subject. This company was inspired by our Founder, Tarajii, having gone through her own personal hardships in life. This is a grass roots company for the people, by the people. For businesses, we promote wellbeing in the workplace by running personalised workshops. We also aim to bridge the gap between public and private sectors, bringing businesses together and building stronger communities.