North Paddington Foodbank

Fancy a 55-mile cycle through the English countryside to do your bit for charity?

have a 15 charity spaces left in our fundraising team for the London to Brighton Cycle on Sunday 15th September.

Starting in Clapham and ending with a heroic sprint down the Brighton beachfront, you can do your part to help raise vital funds to continue our mission towards ending poverty in Westminster!  

Riders will work towards a joint fundraising goal of £10,000, based on last years event average which saw each rider raise between £500-800 each.

If you’re up for the challenge, reserve your spot by emailing [email protected] to be added to our cyclist mailing list 🚲🚲🚲🚲

We're in The Guardian this morning, talking about our campaign to draw attention to millions spent on Commons catering despite millions using food banks

Food bank calls for end to subsidised ‘fine dining at meal deal prices’ for MPs Campaign aims to draw attention to millions spent on Commons catering despite millions using food banks

It’s voting day, and it’s time for change.
 
Politicians are “out of touch,” suggesting poor people “cannot cook properly” and “cannot budget.” Meanwhile, MPs enjoy restaurant-quality meals on the cheap, thanks to our public subsidies.
 
Amid rising food bank use, inflation, and poverty, subsidised fine dining for MPs seems very unsavoury. While Westminster politicians enjoy lavish meals, North Paddington Foodbank (NPFB) could provide up to 3 million meals for the same cost.
 
Sign our petition to end subsidised dining for MPs and redirect those funds to addressing rising poverty in the UK.
 
SIGN THE PETITION, SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FOODBANK! Stand with us in the fight against hunger and inequality with . (Click the link in Stories to sign now!)
 

, my campaign with , is now live.

Sign the Petition & Donate £30 to receive a limited edition t-shirt! All proceeds go directly to supporting . Check the links in our Stories.

While MPs dine in luxury subsidised by our taxes, there are now more foodbanks in the UK than McDonald’s. Over 200 organisations committed to ending poverty have urged the next Prime Minister to prioritise tackling hardship from day one. Frustrated by the “stark lack of focus” on addressing food poverty during the general election campaign, we’re taking action.

, a collaboration between and , is nearly ready to be served. Learn how you can help tackle food poverty and support foodbanks in the UK. (Check the link in Stories)

🌈 We want to wish London a very happy tomorrow. While food insecurity affects people from all walks of life, it disproportionately affects those in marginalised communities.

A report from found that more than a quarter of people (27%) who identify as LGBTQ+ in the UK reported experiencing food insecurity in the last 12 months, compared to 13% of heterosexuals.

Despite closer proximity to food insecurity, the same report revealed that those with a LGBTQ+ identity are less likely to attend a food bank.

Diversity and inclusion must be prioritised in ending the need for food banks. click the link in our bio to join us in our mission! ❤️🧡💛💚💙

At NPFB, 21% of our service users act as a carer for someone in their household. And thanks to the cost of living crisis, carers are under increasingly pressure to cut back on essentials such as food and heating, while continuing to provide care to their loved ones.

This , let’s work together to make sure no one in London goes hungry 💜

More than just a meal, more than just a foodbank 💜

💸 We provide cash and vouchers so individuals in crisis can shop with dignity and respect

🧑‍🍳 We host cooking classes & community meals to encourage healthy eating and tackle social isolation

💜 We provide a lifeline to those who need it, offering financial advice and support with open doors

Community is everything 💜

In addition to providing emergency food aid and specialist advice, NPFB delivers weekly community meals for the over 50s and weekly community cooking classes for mothers with children.

We created a list of FREE activities taking place this easter holiday for young people in Westminster. All events require enrollment; contact information is given on each slide.

These projects are part of the Holiday Activities & Food (HAF) Programme, for young people in Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea who are eligible for Free School Meals.

We created this calendar of Some local events happening in Westminster. All events are FREE! Some events require enrolment, all contact information is given on the slides. Check back next week for what's on Westminster.

We created this calendar of Some local events happening in Westminster. All events are free; no booking is needed. Check back next week for what's on in Westminster.

47% of UK adults said the cost of living crisis had made them reconsider a homemade dinner at the weekend.

The cost of food is rising to the highest it has been, meaning families are being prevented from getting together at the weekend to socialize due to not only the cost of food but the cost of fuel to cook it.

This is eroding families' relationships as they can’t afford to get together. It stops people from seeing their extended family as it becomes an ordeal rather than a pleasure.

So if you are worried that you can’t afford food, then we can help. Please visit our website for more information.


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Sited- https://www.theguardian.com/money/2023/feb/26/uk-cuts-back-on-cooking-sunday-roasts-as-energy-bills-soar

Britain’s annual inflation rate is on the way down. After hitting the highest level since the 1980s. However, prices are still rising fast and a lot faster than wages, continuing the squeeze on living standards.

Low-income households are still bearing the brunt of the cost of living crisis. as the annual cost of gas is up almost 130% forcing people to go without cooking and heating for extended periods of time.

If you are worried that you can't afford your energy bill, then we can help. We are working in Partnership with the Fuel Foundation to support vulnerable households this winter with fuel vouchers.

Sited:
-https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/feb/15/uk-inflation-easing-food-gas-prices-cost-of-living

We would just like to thank everybody that donated to our
Baby Bank Donation Drive in Kensington.
It was extremely successful, with loads of really helpful, generous donations.
The donations will help many families in need of emergency support.

We would personally like to thank Julia for organizing and manning the drive and all the other volunteers who helped.
It takes real commitment, time and hard work.

If YOU would like to donate, we always need
unscented baby wipes
stage 1 baby formula (SMA, Cow & Gate, Aptimil)
Sanitary Products.

Donations can be dropped off at
57 Goldney Road W9 2AR
Wednesday and Fridays between 11 am-4 pm.
�However, if you are worried that you can’t afford essential products for your baby, we can help. Our Baby Bank provides families in need of emergency support.

Please visit Queens Park Children Centre - 88 Bravington Road W9 3AL - for a referral.


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The UK hit a fresh record high of 16.7% in the four weeks to 22 January, adding nearly £800 to the typical annual shopping bill with rises in particular to essentials such as milk, fruit, and vegetables.

Last year we supported more than 30,000 people with emergency food aid, and demand for our service continues to increase with the growing cost of groceries.

The massive inflation in food prices is forcing families to eat less nutritious foods in favor of low-cost meals or skip meals altogether. Shop price inflation has yet to peak this year, with the cost of basic essentials expected to remain high.

So if you are worried that you can’t afford food, then we can help. Please visit our website for more information.


Share/Donate/Get Involved

Sited:
-https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jan/31/uk-supermarket-price-inflation-rise-bills-milk-eggs-dog-food

Half term has just begun. Swipe along to discover a variety of free or cheap things for you and your kids to enjoy this week in London.


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Half term has just begun. Swipe along to discover a variety of free or cheap things you and your kids can enjoy in London this week.


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Private Renters are being forced to make cutbacks, with 1 in 3 renters spending at least half their income on rent alone, with them paying more on housing costs than homeowners. 54% of renters claiming housing benefits have shortfalls on rent.

If you are worried that you cannot afford essentials such as food as you have to make cutbacks to afford rent, we can help. Please visit our website for more information


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Sited:
-https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64319344

People with serve disabilities and health conditions are drastically cutting back on food, heating, and travel so that they can afford to “keep life-saving equipment turned on.”

An electricity “bill a year ago was £60 [a month] and it’s now nearly £150.”

We are finding that disabled people are much more likely to struggle to heat their homes this winter, currently, 51% of our customers are households living with a disability.

If you are struggling to pay your energy bills, then we can help; we are working in partnership with the Fuel Bank Foundation to support vulnerable households with emergency fuel vouchers.


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Sited:
-https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jan/22/energy-costs-disabled-people-cost-of-living-crisis

Great to be reunited with the ladies today at lunch 🥙 Planning our next kitchen takeover, watch this space 👩‍🍳🌟

Vulnerable parents may be forced to resort to unsafe practices to feed their babies because of a sharp increase in the cost of infant formula.

A price surge of 22% means families already experiencing food poverty can no longer use Healthy Start Vouchers to cover one box of procedures. Instead, they are watering down the product, stretching out times between feeds, or feeding their babies unsuitable food such as porridge.

If you are worried that you can’t afford essential products for your baby, then we can help. Our Baby Bank provides families in need of emergency support with access to nappies, wipes, baby formula, and sanitary products.

Please visit the Queens Park Children Centre - 88 Bravington Road W9 3AL - for a referral.


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The average food shop is forecast to rise by £643 this year, the highest rate since 1980, and at a time when families also face higher energy, transport and housing costs.

These pressures are forcing families to value low-cost over nutritional value, and often are left with no money for food at all. We are finding that users reject nutritious options such as root vegetables and potatoes because they cannot afford the energy costs of boiling them.

Malnutrition is estimated to cost the NHS £19.6 billion per year, and going hungry, even just a few times, can have devastating and long-lasting impacts on people’s health and well-being.

If you are worried that you can’t afford food, then we can help. Please visit our website for more information.


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While the cost of living has affected all of us, the impact on people on the lowest incomes has been the most severe.

Budgets, that have previously been stretched to just about cover the essentials we all need to live, now can’t cover the increases.

"Constant awareness, constant choices, but it’s not really a choice because you have no choice."


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Donate: https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/18840 #!/DonationDetails

As a result of 2022’s, skyrocketing energy prices, an estimated 600,000 people were forced to make the switch away from credit meters after racking up debt with their energy supplier in 2022.

Left with no other choice - in considerable debt and now forced to pay for energy at a higher rate than contracts where the customer pays monthly or by direct debit - many had no choice but to "self-disconnect".

For many, running out of credit is not a one-off event. More than 2 million people are being disconnected at least once a month, going without heat or light for at least 24 hours, and unable to cook or wash.

Last year we supported more than 500 households with Emergency Fuel Vouchers. If you are worried that you can’t afford your energy bill, then we can help. We are working in Partnership with the Fuel Foundation to support vulnerable households this winter with fuel vouchers.


Share / Donate / Get Involved

Sited:
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64235997
- https://www.theguardian.com/money/2023/jan/11/call-to-end-forced-installation-of-uk-prepayment-meters-after-millions-suffer-without-power

, End

Last week, we held our NPFB Festive Fair for Baby Bank Members at the Beethoven Centre.

Several Westminster advice agencies ran drop-in sessions for any support and advice, and 110 families received a festive gift hamper and a monthly supply of Nappies, Baby Formula and Wipes.

There were also lots of Pizza, Hot Chocolates and activities for the children :) A big thanks to Cara, Hollie, Matthius, and Ellie from our partner Virgin for helping to make a great event.

Also, thank you to SHP, QPCC, Verizon, Leaps & Grounds (for great coffee and hot chocolate), UCS (for prezzies), Maternity Champions and Community Living Well.