A new model of support that helps families build financial security, improve wellbeing and connect with their community.

You can download the full CWS Impact Report (2025-2026) here

After a successful 18 month ‘proof of concept’ pilot at Bridge Park Leisure Centre, The CWS established a full-time service at the New Horizons Centre, Willesden, in January 2025 – in partnership with the London Borough of Brent.

This is not a crisis or emergency service. By moving away from dependency-based food aid, the CWS provides a holistic, preventative framework where dignified food access serves as the primary gateway to long-term financial and personal resilience.

The CWS represents an innovative, tried and tested paradigm shift from crisis management to prevention and stability. While traditional emergency food aid relies on high-cost, short-term interventions, the CWS model is a structured, choice-based programme designed to address the causes of poverty in a supportive community setting.

Rooted in Local Leadership, Grounded in Evidence

The CWS operationalises Sufra’s 2030 Strategy, shifting from transactional aid to relational empowerment by addressing the causes of food poverty. To ensure this transformation is genuinely community-led, the CWS is co-designed and guided by a dedicated steering group made up of our volunteers and service users.

The model is reinforced by the pioneering SALIENT research trial hosted at Sufra, which confirmed that guests overwhelmingly value the agency to choose their own food. The CWS applies this principle directly: by operating a community shop rather than distributing pre-packed parcels, we preserve dignity and empower our members.

Membership with Dignity and Choice

The CWS operates on a dignified membership model. A nominal £4 weekly fee provides members with a subsidised shop, free hot meals and access to comprehensive wrap-around advice. This contribution transforms the service user from a passive recipient of aid into an active participant, preserving dignity and promoting agency, while providing an immediate boost to household purchasing power.

Who the service supports

Using three criteria, membership targets families facing acute financial pressure:

Location: Resident in Brent.

Family Composition: Children under 18 (or under 25 with Special Educational Needs).

Financial Status: Receiving means-tested benefits.

A Joined-Up Pathway

The service operates through a deliberate, outcome-oriented sequence designed to move guests from instability toward autonomy. The pathway seamlessly integrates the Community Shop & Café, accredited welfare and debt advice, and dedicated health and wellbeing support.

You can download the full CWS Impact Report (2025-2026) here