Family Hubs support local families through Warm Welcome Pantry offer

Since launching in November, the borough-wide pantry has supported more than 350 families helping households manage rising costs and food insecurity.

Families receive a mix of staple non-perishable items, such as rice, pasta and cereal, alongside fresh food, ensuring children and families have access to nutritious essentials.

The sessions are delivered at Family Hubs, so alongside food provision, families can also access practical advice to build financial resilience, including guidance on benefits and employment support, energy-saving tips and connections to wider council and partner services as Department for Work and Pensions support and local energy advice programmes.

Parents who have accessed the pantry offer have shared how important the support has been during challenging times. One parent said: “It will definitely help. Because I’m spending less on food, I’ll be able to buy the other things my children need for school that I might not usually be able to afford.”

Another parent highlighted how the offer helps families prioritise their children’s wider needs: “I think the choice is a good range of items and we will definitely benefit from this, as some of the money I save can go towards something else that my children need, like a winter coat.”

Judi Gasser, Cabinet Member for Children, said: “We are determined to make Wandsworth the best place for children to grow up and that means supporting families when they need it most.

“The Warm Welcome Pantry offer at our Family Hubs is a great example of how our Community Spaces programme is making a difference, helping families manage cost of living pressures while ensuring children are supported and nourished.”

The programme is funded through the Cost-of-Living Fund and forms part of Wandsworth’s Community Spaces offer, which brings together warm, welcoming spaces across the borough offering practical help, advice and community support for residents who need it most.

Wandsworth continues to work closely with Family Hubs and community partners to ensure residents can access support quickly and easily.

Families are encouraged to visit their local Family Hub or explore the Community Spaces directory to find out what help is available in their area.