Accessing Emergency Food

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If you’re struggling to afford food, you can find info about services who can help below, or find out more about support in Brighton and Hove in our frequently asked questions. Translate this page by selecting your language in the Google Translate tool above.

If you need help today

The friendly team from Impact Initiatives can talk through your options with you. Call 01273 322 950 or email food.access@impact-initiatives.org.uk.

Winter opening times and meals

We’ve made a list of all the festive meals and winter opening times for people who need support during the season.

Directory map

Map view List view

You can also visit our directory map to search by project type.

Downloadable info sheets in different languages

You can request printed versions of these leaflets by emailing us.

Understanding food support & crisis services

There are different types of food and crisis support you can access in our city. Different projects run in different ways, so you may find that what’s offered at one service is very different from another. Some services only offer food to people in their area, and some cater for the whole city.

Food banks

Food banks are there to help you get food if you are in a crisis. You will need a referral for most food banks, this can be arranged by a care professional or agency worker. You will be given an appointment to collect a food bag, usually containing enough food for three days and sometimes essential toiletries. Most food banks can support you for up to 6 weeks. 

Affordable food shops and schemes

Sign up to an affordable food scheme for groceries at an affordable cost. As a member, you will pay a small fee to regularly visit and select the food you need. There is often a choice of food, including fresh fruit and vegetables, like a market or supermarket. Some deliver a veg box to your door. 

Community cafes and meals

If you want to eat a ready cooked meal, there are several street kitchens, community centres and faith centres you can go to. What’s on offer ranges from tea and cake, soup and a roll, or a hot cooked meal. Many are free or ‘pay-as-you-can’. Some are for particular groups such as older people or homeless people.  

Community fridges and pantries

Anyone can pop in to choose from the donations stored in community fridges and pantries. You might find these in your local community centre, school or students union. What is on offer varies depending on what has been donated, so what you take often helps to save food from going to waste. 

Food deliveries

If you are housebound or struggle to cook for yourself, you can explore food delivery options. Affordable meals-on-wheels in Brighton & Hove are provided by East Brighton Food Co-op, delivering twice a week. Some food banks also have a limited capacity to deliver food to people who fit their criteria. 

Community Kitchen

Our cookery school in central Brighton does not give out food to the public, but is a hub for learning and connection around food. This includes courses for people living on low incomes, those who are older & isolated, or people with physical and mental health issues.

Food Support FAQ

If you are in an emergency and need support on the same day:

  • For  advice and support about getting food, referrals, shopping and meal deliveries, contact Impact Initiatives by email food.access@impact-initiatives.org.uk or call 01273 322950.
  • For out of hours advice and support for those in a crisis situation please contact Adult Social Care’s out of hours line by Carelink, email AccessPoint@brighton-hove.gov.uk or phone 01273 295555.

Most food banks will first ask for a referral before you can attend. A referral is when a trusted organisation contacts the food bank on your behalf.  

To access your local food bank you can ask these people to refer you:  

  • food access workers, like Impact Initiatives
  • your doctor
  • your support worker
  • your or your children’s teacher
  • money advice charities
  • the council or faith leaders.

Family Hubs

Family Hubs can support your whole family, including with emergency food support. You can complete the online form to refer yourself or a family you work with. 

Free School Meals 

Children whose parents receive certain benefits (but not working tax credit) are entitled to receive free school meals. Find out if your child is entitled or apply online. 

The council will help you apply. Email or call the Free School Meals Team on 01273 293497. You will need to tell them your National Insurance Number or your National Asylum Seeker Number (NASS), your date of birth, and your surname (as it appears on your benefit letter). 

Healthy Start Vouchers 

The Healthy Start scheme can help you if you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4. The vouchers can help to buy healthy foods like milk or fruit, and free vitamins. You need to be claiming certain benefits to qualify. If you’re pregnant and under 18 you can claim even if you do not receive any benefits.  See Healthy Start website for details. 

A health professionals’ signature no longer needed and they will post a form out if necessary. 

School holiday meals 

There are several providers of holiday activities and food, including Chomp Brighton who run a lunch club during the school holidays where children and their families, who usually rely on free school meals, can enjoy a free healthy meal and fun activity. 

Some local services for older people:

Ageing Well – a programme of activities, information and advice for people living in Brighton & Hove aged 50+ 

East Brighton Food Co-operative – a meals-on-wheels service for the Brighton area.

Age UK Brighton & Hove – for coffee mornings, classes and activities.

Tower House Community Centre & Café – pre-bookable activity-based sessions and meals in a warm and welcoming club environment.

The Hop 50+ – a community space and café which offers a range of activities and social opportunities for anyone over 50. Hop 50+ serve snacks and a homecooked main meal.

Food and Friendship – Weekly lunch club for older people and those with learning disabilities, running during school term time.

ReEngage tea party groups – free monthly social groups open to people aged 75 and over.

Resources from the Food Partnership:

YMCA DLG Youth Advice Centre

Young people aged 16-25 can use the Food Market once a week. The Food Market operates on a suggested donation of £5 for 12 grocery items (plus free toiletries and cleaning products). They also hold a range of products for different dietary requirements. If you can’t afford this then please come and speak to their friendly team, as emergency provision can be provided. The team can also explain their other services to you if you need more support.

Universities:

Studying at university can be a costly experience, especially for those on a low income or travelling from overseas. Many student support services have advice available around money or debt and hardship funds you can apply for if you are struggling to afford your living costs, including food. Universities have a duty of care towards their students, so it is important to let them know if you need help. 

University of Sussex 

The University of Sussex Meeting House Pantry is the university-run food bank on campus available for students to access. You will need to be referred from Hardship Team to access. 

They also have a hardship fund to help support our students who are struggling financially.

The University has extended the subsidised £2 hot meals scheme. You can find the £2 meals at Eat Central in Bramber House. Each weekday between 12 noon and 2 pm, a vegetarian or vegan option is offered at this price, allowing you to grab a healthy and tasty hot meal while on campus. To help you save money and minimise food waste, you can also download the Too Good to Go app. 

Find out about budgeting tips to help you through your course, including a student budget calculator. 

You can book a budgeting one-to-one with an advisor in the Student Centre for help.  

See the Student Hub page for further information on financial support available or contact hardship@sussex.ac.uk to find out how to apply for hardship funds. Their money advice page also contains useful tips for students.
Call: +44 (0)1273 075700
studentlifecentre@sussex.ac.uk 

Address: The Student Centre,
Refectory Road, Falmer, BN1 9BU 

Brighton University 

Brighton Students’ Union Essentials is an initiative for Brighton University students only. You don’t need an appointment, just pop in and collect what you need. Stock includes fresh produce, canned goods and snacks. This initiative serves as both a foodbank and a re-use centre, providing free food, household supplies, clothing, personal hygiene products, and more.

Students can visit BSU Essentials in Mithras House on the ground floor, where you can also get information on hardship funds and other schemes around the university to tackle the cost of living. If you visit BSU Essentials more than twice, advisors will help you understand your finances and maximize your budget.

For more information:

Email – helloBSU@brighton.ac.uk.

BSU Cost of Living Information Hub Website

See the Hardship Funding page for details or contact student support on studentadvice@brighton.ac.uk or 01273 642888. 

BIMM, Institute for Contemporary Theatre & Brighton Film School 

Student Support for BIMM students and its partner schools ICT and Brighton Film School also have hardship funding and advice available. Contact the Enquiries Team on 01273 840 346 or email enquiries@bimm.ac.uk for more information. 

Waterbear Music College 

Finance and funding advice available, contact student support via info@waterbear.org.uk. 

Brighton and Hove City Council’s last contract for a meals-on-wheels service ended in 2016. Today the only similar service provided in the area is coordinated by East Brighton Food Co-operative (EBFC). This volunteer-run project cooks balanced meals with portions to cover every meal of the week for their members. This service gets a high proportion of referrals for older people, people who have recently been discharged from hospital and the long-term housebound. 

St Mungo’s – For information about wider homelessness services, contact 0300 500 0914  

Sussex Homeless Support run street kitchens every Saturday at 1pm at the Old Steine, and Thursdays 6.30pm at the Peace Statue.  EMAIL: jimdeans@devlinmediagroup.co.uk  

The Clock Tower Sanctuary – for people aged 16-25 and rough sleeping, ‘sofa surfing’ or living in temporary or emergency housing. Hot meals, shower & laundry facilities and daily classes and activities are offered. Food parcels are also available. If you are a new client, or to refer a young person, please contact the Support Coordinators:   

Ross – 07375 962 570   

Poppy – 07592 154110

Justlife Brighton support people with varying needs throughout their journey into and out of temporary accommodation.  

5a Brunswick Row, Brighton, BN1 4JZ   

T: 0300 123 1550
E: brighton@justlife.org.uk

YMCA DLG Youth Advice Centre

Young people aged 16-25 can use the Food Market once a week. The Food Market operates on a suggested donation of £5 for 12 grocery items (plus free toiletries and cleaning products). They also hold a range of products for different dietary requirements. If you can’t afford this then please come and speak to their friendly team, as emergency provision can be provided. The team can also explain their other services to you if you need more support.

Brighton & Hove City Council have a range of cost of living support resources on their website. They can also offer additional support such as foodbank referrals, vouchers, and fuel/financial assistance:  

For money, debt and fuel advice services you can contact the following: 

  • Citizens Advice Brighton and Hove on 08082 787815 can help with benefit checks, claiming benefits, assistance with appeals, budgeting advice, debt advice & casework, referrals for free home safety checks from East Sussex Fire and Rescue. 
  • Energyworks provides support to people experiencing fuel poverty through advice and grant payments. This service can be contacted on 0333 090 9150 or energyworks@cabrightonhove.org. 
  • St Luke’s Advice Service are a charity providing both benefits and money advice. They can support clients to access all benefits and welfare support available and to help manage debt. Call on 01273 549203  from Mon-Fri 9am-5pm or email info@stlukesadviceservice.org.uk. 

* Some advice organisations may be operating with wait times of 5 days to a few weeks before they can assess you. 

Refugee Services – Find local services, help and support.

Voices in Exile – supporting refugees, asylum seekers and those with no recourse to public funds, including a weekly food bank at the Fitzherbert Community Hub, Kemptown.

Jollof Cafe – Sussex Refugee and Migrant Self Support Group with weekly cafe run by migrants for migrants, a warm welcoming space for all.

Cafe address: West Hill Hall, Brighton, United Kingdom

brighton.jollofcafe@gmail.com

Refugee Radio – supporting refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants with:

Finding food that meets your health, dietary, and cultural needs is important. Some food banks might have limited resources, but please ask them for the food you need so they know there is a demand for it and can try to source it for you.

If they can’t provide, you might find what you are looking for at affordable food schemes which have more choice, or at:

If you are in an emergency and need support on the same day: 

Individuals

Food projects are often volunteer run, and their teams really appreciate donations of time, money or food.

Groups

Can your business or workplace provide funding or donations? Join our Food SOS campaign today.

It is worth noting that food projects do not normally have the capacity to host groups of volunteers just for the day, but would very much benefit from local volunteers who can commit to completing an induction and attending regularly. Contact food projects directly to express your interest in donating your time. 

During the festive holidays

Each year we compile information about how to help out during the festive season. Check our website for our ‘how to help at Christmas info’ (we update this each year) or get updated by signing up to our fortnightly newsletter.

 Support for community food projects

If you are a food bank, lunch club, community garden, surplus food project, composting site, or want to begin offering a meal via one of your existing services, you may find the links on this page useful.

Brighton and Hove Food Partnership do not currently provide direct food support. We take a strategic role and facilitate networks of projects and stakeholders across the area, including:

If you would like to join a network, please contact us at info@bhfood.org.uk

Can’t find your answer on this page? Get in touch.

Call us: 01273 234 810
Email us: info@bhfood.org.uk