In 2023, Sufra will be launching a new 6-month pilot project in partnership with Brent Council at Bridge Park Leisure Centre (Harrow Rd, London, NW10 0RG) in Stonebridge – in addition to all of our existing core services.

What is the project?

The project builds on our existing experience offering a wide range of support to our guests – but now we will be able to provide all of our services under one roof!

Based on a 3-month membership model, a weekly £3.50 fee will give members access to:

• Weekly shopping worth approximately £25 at our Community Shop
• Free snacks and refreshments at our Community Café
• Free hot meals at our Community Kitchen twice a week
• Triaging and themed welfare advice, social activities and other forms of wraparound support – all in a warm and friendly community space.

However, much like our existing Community Kitchen service, the general public will also have access to free drinks at the Community Café and free meals at the Community Kitchen – without membership. We want this to be a Community Space, where everyone and anyone can share a meal.

As this will be a pilot project, we are initially targeting families that fulfil all of the following criteria:

• In receipt of Universal Credit or other means-tested benefits
• Families with children
• In employment

Our Project partners:

Why are we launching it?

In the past year, we’ve seen an increase in food bank guests who are working and in receipt of all eligible benefits but still need a bit of support. We see this mainly in families on low-wages receiving capped Universal Credit support. These are people who still go on occasional food shops, but have to pick and choose between their essentials and have low levels of disposable income.

This is a slightly different demographic to those we mainly support at the food bank – many of them do not have £3.50 spare each week. The idea being that we can prevent our members from spiralling into deeper poverty, and thereby reduce demand for food aid.  

The need in Brent borough:

• Increasing levels of hunger and poverty in the borough
• 25% of working people in Brent earn less than the real living wage
• Many residents in Brent have limited access to groceries: Trust for London has identified areas in Brent that are considered e-food deserts

Click here on our service page to learn more: https://www.sufra-nwlondon.org.uk/our-services/community-wellbeing-project/