Pret South Quay Plaza, Marsh Wall

COOH helps children, young people and families across Lewisham, Southwark, Lambeth and Greenwich strengthen their wellbeing, confidence and stability through trusted community programmes and practical support. Come Out of Hiding – The Lighthouse Network CIC (COOH) is a Christian organisation and we welcome and serve people of all faiths and no faith. Founded in 2015 and incorporated as a Community Interest Company in 2018, we provide safe, welcoming spaces where people can connect, receive support, learn new skills and take part in opportunities that may otherwise be out of reach. Our programmes include: • Let’s Get Messy – creative, wellbeing and movement activities for children aged 3–10. • STEPs: Let’s Level Up – mentoring, employability, enterprise, financial capability, leadership and life-skills activities for young people aged 11–17. • Let’s Get Moving – physical activities, community trips and family experiences. • Let’s Talk – mental and emotional wellbeing conversations and safe spaces. • Let’s Get Fed – food, basic essentials and practical support for households experiencing hardship. • Let’s Be Light (for those who choose this) – Christian leadership, volunteering and community social action. We also provide community drop-ins, family forums, community meals, seasonal holiday activities, employer visits, work experience and signposting to other services. Our whole-family approach recognises that children and young people are more likely to thrive when their parents, carers and wider household are also supported. COOH has delivered more than 6,700 participant hours and has built trusted relationships with local residents, community organisations, NHS services, housing providers, businesses and funders. The support we need most includes surplus food, toiletries, household essentials, school supplies, clothing, refreshments and materials for our activities. We also welcome volunteers who can support youth and children’s sessions, community drop-ins, food distribution, mentoring, employability workshops, events, administration, fundraising, communications and professional advice. Financial donations help us respond when a family needs urgent assistance, cover activities and travel for children and young people, provide welcoming community sessions and ensure trained staff and volunteers are available to deliver our work safely.

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.