Pret Harbour Island

Urban Unity Food Bank is a grassroots initiative run by a passionate team of local volunteers at The Old Surgery Community Centre. We are committed to supporting individuals and families in need by providing free food, seven days a week. We serve a diverse range of people in our local community. Including families with children, people on low incomes, those with special needs, and vulnerable individuals such as pregnant women, disabled residents, chemotherapy patients, and the housebound. We also deliver to those experiencing homelessness, local night shelters, after-school clubs, and other community centres. This includes retired Veterans of military service shelter, women's salvation army shelter, men's shelter, and a local soup kitchen for the homeless. We also have previous service users of our foodbank volunteering with us and giving back to the community, such as previously homeless people. As demand continues to grow, we are now facing challenges in meeting the needs of everyone who comes to us. More people are turning to us for help than we currently have food available, but we are determined to continue serving and expanding our reach. Who We Support and How We welcome people from all backgrounds, with no need for referrals, vouchers, or paperwork. Our volunteers, many of whom live locally, work directly with the community. Identifying and supporting those who need help. We offer compassionate, informal support and respect each person’s privacy. Whether someone needs regular food support, has dietary restrictions, or simply needs someone to talk to, we’re here to help. At its core, our food bank is about more than food, it’s about dignity, kindness, and community. We aim to bring people together, offer hope, and put a smile on someone’s face during a difficult time. More Than a Food Bank While our main focus is on rescuing surplus food and redistributing it, we also provide a range of other services to support people more holistically: Listening & Support Service – A safe, friendly space where volunteers offer a listening ear and emotional support. Holistic / Whole-Person Support – We assist people with wider challenges such as debt, housing issues, domestic abuse, mental health concerns, and isolation, by offering guidance or signposting to other support services. Everything We Do Is Free All of our services from food parcels to emotional support are completely free. We believe everyone should have access to food and care without barriers. How We Source Food We currently collect surplus food from local businesses through our partnership with Neighbourly. In addition, our volunteers carry out extra one-off collections whenever possible such as canteens in Canary Wharf's corporate banks. We are always open to building new partnerships with local businesses, suppliers, and organisations who share our mission and want to help reduce food waste while supporting those in need.

St Johns Community Centre was established in 1968. it is a voluntary sector organisation firmly rooted in the local community. Our Centre is home to many intercultural and inter-generational groups. We promote diversity by bringing together people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. We also support those who endeavour to make the Royal Docks area a stronger, healthier and happier place to live for all with a focus on the environment and improving biodiversity. St Johns Community Centre runs a number of services to support the entire community from toddlers up to our senior community members in their 90's. Food Hub We run a FoodHub 4 days per week supporting over 125 families weekly with food parcels, which is an essential service helping families to cope amidst the cost-of-living-crisis. St Johns Community Centre provides essential wrap around services at the foodbank including benefit advice and mental health support in partnership with Newham Talking Therapies. Well-being services St Johns Community Centre is a wellbeing hub offering a safe space to the community aiming to improve social connections, encourage engagement, increase resilience, improve mental and emotional health and reduce loneliness and isolation. St Johns Community Centre runs friendships groups for over 50's, Line dancing, a walking group, c, a women Wellbeing art group and a mens mental health support group. All groups are requested to pay £2 donation. St Johns Community Centres wellbeing gardening group look after and maintained a number of green spaces in the local community and regenerate green spaces that have been neglected and abandoned, increases more access to green spaces in the community. St Johns Community Centre also hosts a number of events and party's through the year for the community to bring people together and celebrate our rich and diverse community.

Come Out of Hiding: The Lighthouse Network CIC (COOH) is a Christian, BME-led, community-rooted social enterprise dedicated to nurturing, equipping, and empowering whole and healthy young people, families, and underserved communities. Through our faith-inspired, holistic, and family-first “Lighthouse Approach,” we provide mental, emotional, spiritual, and practical support that transforms lives from the inside out. Founded in 2015 and registered as a Community Interest Company in 2018, we have built a growing, trusted presence in our community. Our work is delivered through two core strands: Family Matters and The Lighthouse Academy which together form a bridge between support, leadership development, and legacy-building. As we embark on our 10-year journey in 2025, we are in a critical growth phase, aiming to build capacity for long-term sustainability and legacy. Our mission is for every young person, family, and community to experience holistic wholeness and wellbeing: spirit, soul and body. The UK is facing overlapping crises impacting its young people and families: 1. Escalating Youth Mental Health Crisis: Around 1 in 5 young people (8-25) have a diagnosable mental health disorder, yet only 40% access effective treatment, leaving a significant gap in support, particularly in low-income communities. 2. Profound Social Isolation: 1.9 million Gen Z youth (16-24) report chronic loneliness, a higher rate than any other demographic. This is exacerbated by the loss of vital community spaces. 3. Gaps in Community Support Infrastructure: Since 2012, 53% of local authority-run youth centres have closed, removing crucial hubs for peer interaction and safe spaces. 4. Compounding Socioeconomic Challenges: Food insecurity affects 15% of UK households, with 60% of food-insecure homes reducing fruit purchases. Youth homelessness in London has seen a 92% increase since 2016, with 20,200 cases reported in 2023 alone, driven by family breakdowns and lack of housing options. These systemic issues create a critical need for holistic, community-driven interventions that address immediate needs while fostering long-term resilience and wellbeing. Our Solution: The Lighthouse Approach At COOH, we provide faith-inspired, holistic-based support with a family-first approach. We believe transformation begins in homes, serving the whole household, not just the child. Our programmes address mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical wellbeing. Our work is delivered through two key arms: 1. Family Matters: Focused on rebuilding families and communities through: Let’s Get Fed Community Fridge and Mayor’s Fund for London Holiday Food Programme, Let's Get Messy Creative Mental Health & Wellbeing Sessions, Let’s Get Moving Physical Activity Sessions, Let’s Level Up Career Leadership & Employability Sessions, Annual Bank Holiday Undivided Family Community Summer Festival 2. The Lighthouse Leadership Academy (TLC): Raising Whole Leaders of Tomorrow