Purley Food Hub is an emergency food bank that helps local people in crisis. It was set up in January 2013 by Churches Together in Purley & Kenley and became a registered charity with elected Trustees in July 2013. Since then we have provided over 250,000 meals to more than 28,000 clients and family members in need.

Clients are referred to us by around 130 Food Ticket Partners. These are agencies and professionals across Croydon borough including jobcentres, teams and departments of Croydon Council, hostels and refuges, children’s centres and schools, mental health services and a wide range of voluntary organisations.

We provide clients and their families with enough tinned and other non-perishable food for three meals a day for three days. Since the start of the Covid pandemic we have delivered supplies direct to clients’ homes, and this will continue for the foreseeable future.

We also work closely with local voluntary organisations, particularly the two Food Stops at Old Lodge Lane Baptist Church in Purley and St Francis Church, Monks Hill, Selsdon. Clients don’t need to be referred to go to a Food Stop. These are open on Fridays and visitors are able to choose around £20 of fresh and frozen food and non-perishable items for a payment of £3.50.

Purley Food Hub is run entirely by volunteers – we currently have around 150 from the churches and local community. Food is donated by local churches, schools, businesses, uniformed groups, community organisations like the Rotary Club and Women’s Institute and many families and individuals.

As well as providing food and toiletries we also offer individual help and advice through our team of Client Support Volunteers, who work alongside colleagues at the Food Hub and also at the Purley Food Stop.