Lambeth Larder Solidarity Project

Total amount of funding requested: £25,000

What will your project deliver?

We are applying to THINC for core costs toward our vital work. Lambeth Larder connects and supports around 20,000 local people each year who are experiencing financial crisis, across the London Borough of Lambeth. We support those in need of emergency food through to those struggling with more long-term food and financial poverty, poor mental health, and the ongoing impacts of the Cost-of-living Crisis. Many of the support services that we promote via our digital hub and paper directory are based in the Brixton area including Disability Advice Service Lambeth, Refugee Community Kitchen, Healthy Living Platform Food Hub, Mosaic Clubhouse, Copef Training Skills - African Emergency Hub, Helping Hands Collective, Indoamerican Refugee and Migrant Organisation, The Well Centre, Brixton Advice Centre, Lambeth & Croydon Food Bank (Brixton Hub), etc. We want local people to be able to find the help they need in the shortest possible time.

We create and distribute vital free online and off-line resources that inform, empower, and engage them to reduce and manage their experiences with dignity and empowerment of choice.

Our services include:

1. Digital hub platform, free online resources to in-need and vulnerable residents; including our online directory and interactive map of provision for food poverty and cost-of-living crisis support lists over 200 local support services In 2024/25, our website received over 30,000 unique visitors.

2. Our paper directory of services; with circa 33,000 copies distributed across the borough each year to reach those most vulnerable and digitally excluded residents.

Which group(s) or communities is your project intended to support?

People on low incomes, who are more likely to experience poor mental health

Older people, Black and minoritised ethnic people, who face systemic barriers to services and internet access.

What difference will it make?

We help to improve connectedness to food poverty support, information, advice, guidance, referrals and signposting. Improved access to food vouchers and schemes, which we promote, supplements low incomes. We empower people to make food/nutrition choices (food banks, food pantries, social supermarkets, etc) in times of crisis, including around culturally appropriate food-aid; with dignity and respect.

How will this funding help your community?

THINC funding will enable Lambeth Larder to continue its essential work empowering local people in financial need with free information and guidance, particularly those living in areas of high deprivation, especiall in the Brixton area. Our support includes signposting to food aid organisations, mental health providers, advice, and debt support. We provide valuable information about where to access culturally appropriate food aid.

Why do you think your project will be a success? 

Lambeth Larder’s work is about solidarity and community. Our work is embedded locally, and we have over 10 years’ experience of working in Brixton, and across the borough. We witness on a daily basis the challenges our communities face and we have developed a responsive approach that aims to empower local people with choice and dignity, regardless of their economic situation. Our work is trusted by our community as they tell us: “Great and vital work supporting local people in need and connecting them to organisations that can help.”

https://haveyoursay.lambeth.gov.uk/en-GB/ideas/lambeth-larder-solidarity-project