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Low-cost food
Are you struggling to pay for food? Below are voucher schemes, community-run food outlets that will help you save money on food.
- Low-Cost Shopping
- Food Voucher Schemes
- Surplus Food & Zero Waste
- Save Money On Food
- Food & Wellbeing
Low-Cost Shopping
Do you need to save money on food? Here are some low-cost food outlets in Lambeth and nearby.
Borough Food Co-op
Become a member and pay £4.50 for up to 16 grocery items. Anyone can join the co-op.
Brixton Wholefoods
Brixton Wholefoods has a great supply of cheap herbs and spices, you can buy by weight.
Community Shop
Community Shop is a social supermarket for Lambeth residents receiving means tested benefits. They offer a shop selling surplus food at deeply discounted rates, a kitchen providing hot meals (kids eat free!), and a hub offering self-development courses and engaging activities. To join visit store or fill out online form.
Fareshares Food Co-op
Fareshares Food Co-op is a volunteer-led community wholefood shop. It sells cheap, dry good, fruit, vegetables and more.
Helping Hands Collective
Community food pantry and warm space. Offering a low-cost shop when you spend £5 or £2.50 for fruit, vegetables, and store cupboard items. Enjoy free light refreshments and bring your own bags. Open to all.
Jubilee Hall Pantry
A community shop offering members healthy, affordable food. Spend between £2 and £8 for 5 to 20 items of fresh fruit, vegetables, and store cupboard goods. Everyone welcome. No referral needed.
Kata Kata Food Pantry
Community Food Pantry at Kataka Restauant offering healthy fruit, vegetables, and dry goods for £5.
Moorlands Pantry
A community shop offering members healthy, affordable food. Spend between £2 and £8 for 5 to 20 items of fresh fruit, vegetables, and store cupboard goods. Everyone welcome. No referral needed.
Myatts Field North Pantry
A community shop offering members healthy, affordable food. Spend between £2 and £8 for 5 to 20 items of fresh fruit, vegetables, and store cupboard goods. Everyone welcome. No referral needed.
OCA Community Shop
New community shop. Pay £5, for 12 items or more. Meat, tinned food, fresh fruit & veg, and toiletries. Bring your own bags or trolley.
SWAN Food Pantry
Pay £3 for healthy food and store cupboard items. Please collect. Photo ID and proof of address needed to register. You can self-refer.
The Food Bus
Healthy, affordable groceries, cupboard items, café and more. The food bus visits sites in Lambeth, Southwark, and Wandsworth each week. Lambeth sites are:
Friday (2.30pm-4pm): Allen Edwards School, Studley Road, London SW4 6RP
Friday (12.30-2pm): Larkhall Primary Campus, Smedley St, London SW4 6PH
For Wandsworth & Southwark information, visit Be-Enriched website.
Food Voucher Schemes
Does your family have a low-income? Here are some schemes that may help you pay for food.
Healthy Start Card
Are you receiving benefits, pregnant, or have a child aged under four? You can apply for a free Healthy Start Card to buy healthy food and milk and collect vitamins. Visit the website to apply. Or speak to your doctor, midwife, or health visitor.
Rose Vouchers
Rose Vouchers help families on low incomes buy fresh fruit and vegetables. Families receive £4 of Rose Vouchers for each child every week; or £6 if the child is under one year old. Children's Centres issue the voucher, ask staff if they are part of the scheme.
Surplus Food & Zero Waste
Foodcycle
Enjoy company with others from your local area over a free, delicious meal, prepared with care by FoodCycle volunteers.
Everyone is welcome, no matter your background or circumstances. No referral needed, just turn up.
Love Food Hate Waste
Love Food Hate Waste is national campaign for reducing food waste to save money on food. It has lots of ideas on how to store, cook and buy food to reduce waste.
Oasis Community Fridge
Anyone can collect free, surplus food, or donate. Local businesses can donate food surplus too.
Olio
Olio is a free, food sharing app. You can use it to share or receive unwanted, good food. Share food with people in your neighbourhood. Food businesses can sign up too.
TooGoodToGo
TooGoodToGo is a free app lets you cheaply buy unsold food from nearby restaurants, cafés and supermarkets, at the end of the day, so it gets eaten instead of wasted. Buying a 'Magic Bag' of groceries is a really cheap way of shopping.
Save Money On Food
Feed Yourself for £1 a Day
Feed Yourself for £1 a Day is a Facebook group with lots of ideas low-cost cooking and shopping. It has a supportive online community.
Pat's Food
Pat's Food is brilliant website with low-cost recipes, food plans and lots more. Pat Parker set up the popular Facebook Group Feed Yourself for £1 a Day, she knows her stuff.
Reduce Your Supermarket Spend
Reduce Your Supermarket Spend is a supportive Facebook group with plenty of ideas on how to spend less on shopping.
Skint Dad
Skint Dad is an award winning website that lots of info on how to save, make and manage money. It has a great recipe page too.
Food & Wellbeing
The Food Chain
The Food Chain supports people living with HIV and their families across London. They provide healthy food, support and advice. Your doctor, clinic, or social worker must refer you to use their services. Their website has useful information about food and nutrition, plus recipes.
FOOD LABELS: WHAT DO THEY MEAN?
Understanding how food labels work can help you waste less food and save money.
USE BY: Food must be sold and used by the final date. It may be dangerous for your health when the date has expired, even if it looks and smells fine.
BEST BEFORE: Foods with a 'best before' date should be safe to eat after the 'best before' date, but they may no longer be at their best quality.
SELL BY/DISPLAY UNTIL: ‘Sell by’ and ‘display until’ dates are used for controlling stock in stores. They are instructions for staff, not shoppers.
