Food Providers in Bedford Borough
Click on the names of the organisations below for more detail on the services they provide, referral process and contact details. If you would like your organisation to feature on this list or your details need amending please email info@cvsbeds.org.uk.
Some providers will only accept a referral from another agency. Please read the details on those organisations' website to find a suitable referral agency.
The Food Providers also meet on a regular basis to share information and co-ordinate activity. If you wish to attend these meetings please email info@cvsbeds.org.uk
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The Food Providers Network has compiled a single-page document detailing what is available on each day of the week in the Bedford Borough area. This will be updated every 6 months and the most up-to-date version (June 2024) can be viewed here. |
Directory of Food Providers in the Bedford Borough Area - Updated 6th June 2024.
- Bedford Foodbank
- Bedford Langar Project
- Church of the Transfiguration Kempston
- Dine with Us On The Streets
- Social Supermarket
- Ethnic Food Bank
- FACES Bedford
- Food etc.
- IMPAKT
- Jubilation Action Group
- Kings Arms Church
- Lynn Otti’s Free Food Shop
- Salvation Army
- SMART CJS
- SOS Saturday Outreach Service
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)
- Testimony Outreach
- 4Seasons Outreach
- The Pavement Project
Referral only, free of cost ethnic food parcels for the people of Bedford in financial crisis.
Do you target your work at any specific communities, or specific geographical areas?
Bedford only. All the ethnic minority groups like Asian, African, Caribbean, Eastern European and Middle Eastern communities.
Any referral needed, or eligibility criteria?
Yes needs a referral from a recognized community organization/schools/GP surgeries and borough council.
T: 07448 221034
E: contact_us@ethnicfoodbank.org
We hold our free foodbank service every other Saturday between 1pm and 3pm at the end of De Parys Avenue, opposite St Peter's Church, just up from the John Bunyan statue and anyone in need is welcome. We provide hot and cold drinks, fresh fruit and vegetables, tins of food, cakes and many other sweet treats, sandwiches, baguettes, sausage rolls and other savoury items to take away, crisps, a large variety of hot food and pudding, bread and other non-food items such as toiletries, duvets and clothes.
What Three Words location - https://what3words.com/status.hype.tennis
Do you target your work at any specific communities, or specific geographical areas?
No, everyone is welcome
Any referral needed, or eligibility criteria?
None
E: Dinewithusbedford@gmail.com
W: https://www.facebook.com/DineWithUsOnTheStreetsCherriesLegacy
2b Ashburnham Road, Bedford, United Kingdom – Provision of cut price food. Please check the Facebook page to find opening times and updates on availability of food.
Do you target your work at any specific communities, or specific geographical areas?
No, everyone is welcome
Any referral needed, or eligibility criteria?
None
E: Dinewithusbedford@gmail.com
W: https://www.facebook.com/DineWithUsOnTheStreetsCherriesLegacy
The following services are provided from The Salvation Army, Commercial Street, Bedford, MK40 1QS:
- Sandwich Lunch every Wednesday at 1pm
- Hot food on the 2nd and 5th Sunday of the month at 4pm.
Do you target your work at any specific communities, or specific geographical areas?
No
Any referral needed, or eligibility criteria?
No
T: 01234 329200
E: bedford.congress.hall@salvationarmy.org.uk
W: https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/bedford-congress-hall
Community Food Pantry. We run a community Pantry for residents in Kingsbrook and Cauldwell Wards. We have toiletries, baby essentials, dry foods, tinned food, bread, cereals and many more items. You just have to pay £3.50 a week and you can only come once a week.
Do you target your work at any specific communities, or specific geographical areas?
Kingsbrook and Cauldwell Wards
Any referral needed, or eligibility criteria?
None
T: 07742 016465
Bedford Foodbank provides emergency food parcels with 4/5 days of food to household experiencing a crisis. We also have a CAB adviser at all our Distribution centres to give advice on debt, budgeting, housing, benefits and any other problems people are facing that cause them to need the services of Bedford Foodbank
Do you target your work at any specific communities, or specific geographical areas?
Bedford Foodbank serves the Borough of Bedford
Any referral needed, or eligibility criteria?
Everyone using Bedford Foodbank needs to be refereed by one of our 250 referral agencies who will issue an E voucher to be redeemed at one of our 7 Distribution centers around the town.
T: 01234 268569
E: info@bedford.foodbank.org.uk
W: www.bedford.foodbank.org.uk
Food Bank
Do you target your work at any specific communities, or specific geographical areas?
Bedford
Any referral needed, or eligibility criteria?
No referral needed
E: testimonyoutreach22@gmail.com
We provide cookery workshops for disadvantaged people helping them to cook and eat better by learning how to cook tasty and nutritious meals using cheap ingredients.
Do you target your work at any specific communities, or specific geographical areas?
Bedford Borough and North Central Beds.
Any referral needed, or eligibility criteria?
Yes. Through our partner organisations.
T: 07970 115181
IMPAKT Food is a free to use, no questions asked, community larder open to anyone who finds themselves in food poverty/inequality.
When: Thursday & Friday, 10am - 1pm
Location: Hawes Court, Bedford, MK40 1AW
What Three Words location: toast.bike.dash
Do you target your work at any specific communities, or specific geographical areas?
Our larder is open to anyone who needs it.
Any referral needed, or eligibility criteria?
It is a no questions asked service and can be accessed as many times as required.
T: 07719 977889
E: communityservices@impakt.org.uk
Church of the Transfiguration Kempston
Mickey's café and Café Connect.... Tuesday and Thursday 12-2. Free lunch, hot drinks, community larder.
Do you target your work at any specific communities, or specific geographical areas?
Kempston
Any referral needed, or eligibility criteria?
No
T: 07881046255
FNM (Friday Night Meeting) FNM is a place known for good food and good news. All guests over 18 are welcome to come and have a sit-down hot meal and dessert. We aim to offer community to those homeless and vulnerably housed and an opportunity to find hope and encouragement.
Do you target your work at any specific communities, or specific geographical areas?
Every Friday at the Tavistock Community Centre, doors open at 7.30pm for a hot meal at 8pm. Term time only.
Any referral needed, or eligibility criteria?
No referral, over 18's only. Everyone welcome.
Providing hot meals hot and cold drinks puddings and various other items. We also supply clothing sleeping bags and tents when necessary.
Do you target your work at any specific communities, or specific geographical areas?
We cover outreach Mondays Bedford outside Poundland/CEX for the homeless and people facing hardship. We also cover Biggleswade/Sandy area and local villages to ourselves.
Any referral needed, or eligibility criteria?
No referral needed. If your hungry and need help we’re there for everyone.
T: 07722994777
W: https://www.facebook.com/groups/711921973052575
Free curry meal initiative for the Homeless and in need of Bedford and surrounding areas.
Do you target your work at any specific communities, or specific geographical areas?
6pm Church Square (aka Pigeon Square), Bedford
1st and last Sunday of every month.
Any referral needed, or eligibility criteria?
No
W: https://www.facebook.com/BedfordLangarProject
We run holiday pop up fresh food shops for families in Bedford Borough. We aim to provide fresh food for up to 25 families each week in school holidays only.
Do you target your work at any specific communities, or specific geographical areas?
Bedford Borough
Any referral needed, or eligibility criteria?
Our referrals are open to working families who are not eligible for government school holiday vouchers. We only take referrals from professionals, not self-referrals for this service.
T: 01234 270601
Lynn Otti's Free Food Shop (LOFFS) is a free food online shop that helps individuals and families experiencing difficulties every month with food and essential cleaning items. We accept referrals from agencies, local councils, schools, GP providers, faith based groups, community centres etc. and can refer a family every month to receive from LOFFS.
Do you target your work at any specific communities, or specific geographical areas?
No specific communities or geographical area. We are a Bedford based charity. Our services cover the whole of Bedfordshire.
As long as the individual/family or agency working with the family is able to collect their shopping, we will serve them.
Any referral needed, or eligibility criteria?
Yes, a referral form and a shopping list must be completed by the agency working with the individual/family
E: thebreadprojectonlineshop@gmail.com
Provision on Saturday evenings (6pm - 8pm) of food and drinks, toiletries, household goods, clothes, fruit, veg and anything else we can source to help homeless and people in need.
Provision of soup and sandwiches is also offered around 5.40pm on a Wednesday evening.
Location: The end of De Parys Avenue (by the old taxi rank, near to The Broadway).
What Three Words location - https://what3words.com/status.hype.tennis
Do you target your work at any specific communities, or specific geographical areas?
No
Any referral needed, or eligibility criteria?
No
W: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092981584763
Food provision (subject to eligibility criteria - see below) from the Prebend Support Hub at 12-14 Prebend Street, Bedford, MK40 1QW.
- The provision is open Monday - Friday, 9am – 4pm.
- Breakfast, hot drinks, lunch, and light snacks.
- Washing machine and tumble dryer facilities on site.
- Provision of clothing and toiletries.
- Shower facilities, male, female and disabled.
The provision is accessible (subject to a completed risk assessment) to:
- anyone that has been verified as a rough sleeper.
- anyone who is in SMART's supported accommodation.
- anyone who is in SMART's emergency night beds.
- anyone who is currently staying in Kings Arms Project night beds.
- anyone who has been through SMART's pathways (listed above), but still has identified support needs.
- anyone that is in temporary accommodation.
W: https://smartcjs.org.uk/smart-prebend-centre/
St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)
Providing sandwiches and soup every Thursday at the old taxi rank on De Parys Avenue, near The Broadway.
7.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m.
Do we target our work at any specific communities or geographical areas?
No
Any referral needed or eligibility criteria?
No
- 1st Sunday of the month - 6pm, Pigeon Square – Supporting the Langar Project, providing clothing, toiletries and snacks.
- 3rd Sunday of the month - 11am, Pigeon Square - provision of breakfast (bacon sandwiches, vegetarian alternatives, etc) and hot drinks, as well as clothing, toiletries and snacks.
- Bank Holiday Mondays and Christmas Day - 11am, Pigeon Square - provision of breakfast (bacon sandwiches, vegetarian alternatives, etc) and hot drinks, as well as clothing, toiletries and snacks.
We also provide companionship at various times throughout the week, source items if required (such as bedding, DVD players for those in temporary accommodation, etc.), volunteer at other services including SOS, and provide emotional support and interaction to those who wish to share their life stories or hardships.
Do you target your work at any specific communities, or specific geographical areas?
Our work is specifically aimed at the homeless and those in temporary accommodation, but we do not turn anyone away if they need help and support.
Any referral needed, or eligibility criteria?
No
E: thepavementprojectbedford@gmail.com
W: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Pavement-Project-61553946310476