GAIL's Bakery Brentford

The Food with Love Community Pantry is a community food club, run by and for its members offering good quality, healthy and nutritious food through low cost membership. In June this year (2022) Food with Love (FwL) launched a new and innovative service aimed to empower the residents of the London Borough of Hounslow. The FwL Community Pantry helps families living on the threshold to sustain their livelihoods whilst maintaining their self worth and dignity. We are a community resource; here for those who need us. Our main aim is to; - Support and strengthen the self-esteem of members - Increase self-reliance and resilience - Reduce reliance on food banks. Each member makes a small contribution towards the cost of the food they choose during their weekly visit to the Pantry. To ensure that essential staples are always available the Pantry reinvests all of its member’s fees to buying stock. One of the ethos of FwL is to help decrease the amount of food that is needlessly sent to landfill each year. FwL collects and redistributes surplus stock from supermarkets and food manufacturers within the London Borough of Hounslow. The nature of suppliers means that the supplies are varied every week.

When people walk into our two centres it's often because poverty, social exclusion and marginalisation has left them nowhere else to go. The principal objectives of the charity are: Provide an open-door facility that welcomes people in need without any requirements for payment or the provision of personal information ensuring that anyone can benefit from the charity’s services and feel that their privacy is respected and that they are safe. They might be sleeping rough, or have been evicted, or are sofa surfing or are just hungry. By offering them a free hot meal and a kind word without any judgment, we can set them on a path to getting help from us or other agencies. It might be as simple as food, a shower and a change of clothes to begin with. We can also help them with other needs, like seeing a doctor or a lawyer, advice on housing or benefits, general health services, counselling and referral services to help with alcohol and drug dependencies. Most of all, in a society that mostly shuns the destitute, we offer human contact and warmth to the lonely and desperate people who come to us. The following extracts are copied directly from our most recent annual report year end 31st March 2025. Link to full report https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1058819/accounts-and-annual-returns?_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_organisationNumber=1058819 The following services are provided for our clients from two centres on five days each week from 8 AM to 6 PM At Emmaus House Hot lunch at midday 41,000 for year Distribution of clothing 3250 requests for year - 12000 items clothing and 230 household items Hot showers and hairdressing facilities 550 for year (showers not available for part of year) Health checks and testing (Regular checks for HIV, Hepatitis C, Diabetes, High Blood pressure) Provided by partners. 250 for year Mailbox facility Exclusive Women's and Children’ day once a week 1702 visit for year Access to Optician and Dentist on request Guidance and crisis counselling (provided by staff): 818 for year including 420 Rough Sleepers Advice and advocacy on housing issues Advice on emergency hostel accommodation Alcohol and drug counselling Benefits advice and assistance with online application and appeals. At The Damien Centre Breakfast and tea, coffee and sandwiches throughout the day Opportunity to socialise and interact with peers, volunteers and staff. A safe environment to rest and relax throughout the day. Advice and referral to Emmaus House services when required. Alcohol and drug counselling clinic providing access to advice and counselling on an informal basis (provided by partners) 15174 visit for year (meals and drinks provided) Founded in 1989. All of our services are free and always have been. Emmaus House 1 Berrymead Gardens London W3 8AA The Damien Centre 3-5 Church Road London W3 8PU

The London Community Aid Network (London CAN) London CAN is a grassroots, volunteer-led initiative committed to supporting individuals and families facing hardship across the city. Our mission is to build a more compassionate and inclusive London by providing practical support, promoting community solidarity, and responding to the urgent needs of vulnerable populations. At the heart of our work is the belief that everyone deserves dignity, respect, and access to basic essentials—regardless of their background or circumstances. Food Distribution for Communities in Need One of our core programmes focuses on tackling food insecurity among low-income and marginalised communities. Every week, London CAN works with local partners, food banks, and volunteers to collect, prepare, and distribute fresh, nutritious meals and food parcels to those most in need—including rough sleepers, refugees, families in crisis, and elderly residents on low incomes. We understand that hunger is more than a lack of food—it’s a symptom of broader social inequality. That’s why our food support is designed not only to feed but to uplift. We offer culturally appropriate meals where possible, ensure our services are welcoming and respectful, and connect people with additional resources and support when needed.We are a newly established community initiative focused on providing free food support to individuals and families facing hardship. Operating via a mobile distribution system, we temporarily store food at a residential address before delivery. Our work is rooted in partnerships with local community groups, faith organisations, and schools who help us identify those most in need. A referral system through trusted local partners will be introduced to ensure support is accessible and well-directed. At this early stage, our sole focus is on distributing food parcels. As we grow and secure more resources, we hope to expand our services to include hygiene packs, signposting to additional support, and community outreach events. All services are provided completely free of charge. We are currently applying to join food surplus networks and aim to establish relationships with local supermarkets and food retailers as our operations develop. While we have not yet received local press coverage or launched our social media activity, we plan to actively engage the community and share updates once our food distribution begins. We are also in the process of building relationships with local organisations and welcome future collaborations.