Food banks and food clubs

Food clubs support residents experiencing financial hardship with access to food and basic supplies. They can help provide a sustainable solution to food poverty and reduce the number of people needing to use emergency food banks on a long-term basis.

The Council's community development team have brought together a range of community partners and charitable food distributors, FareShare Sussex, to set up the food clubs.

Joining a food club

Residents who are struggling to make ends meet, or referred by agencies, including schools, older people's services and food banks, can sign up to the membership scheme. Food clubs are open to people living within walking distance of the club.

There is an annual subscription of £1 to join a club and members pay £2 (£2.50 in Merstham) each week to attend.

Members receive nutritious and in-date surplus food from supermarkets at a discount. The food ranges from dry and tinned groceries, to fresh, seasonable fruit and vegetables, close to its sell by date.

• You can ask to join a food club by emailing communitypartnerships@reigate-banstead.gov.uk

Volunteering at a food club

Our food clubs are in need of volunteers to continue to cultivate the relationships we have built with local supermarkets and to collect food for delivery to the clubs. If you're interested, email communitypartnerships@reigate-banstead.gov.uk. The requirements are:

• access to a car
• a degree of physical strength (we sometimes get fairly large donations)
• availability to collect food in the early evening or early morning at least once a week

Reigate & Banstead food clubs

There are five food clubs in the borough:

Horley Food Club

• Horley Community Centre, Albert Road, Horley RH6 7JA. Find Horley Food Club on Google Maps
• Fridays, 11.30am to 1pm
• Telephone: 0785 417 1383
• Email: alice.oswell@reigate-banstead.gov.uk

Merstham Food Club

• Merstham Community Hub, 2b Portland Drive, Merstham RH1 3JB. Find Merstham Food Club on Google Maps
• Wednesdays, 12pm to 1:30pm
• Telephone: 0797 432 5280
• Email: vicki.healy@reigate-banstead.gov.uk

Redhill Food Club

• Redhill Baptist Church, Hatchlands Road, Redhill RH1 6AE. Find Redhill Food Club on Google Maps
• Wednesdays, 12:30pm to 2pm
• Telephone: 0797 432 5000
• Email: elizabeth.Karlicka-Cook@reigate-banstead.gov.uk

St Marks Food Club serving Preston and Tattenhams

• St. Marks Church, St. Marks Road, Tadworth KT18 5RD. Find St Marks Food Club on Google Maps
• Fridays, 1:30pm to 3pm
• Telephone: 0785 417 1376
• Email: maria.hewson@reigate-banstead.gov.uk

Woodhatch Food Club

• Woodhatch Community Centre, Whitebeam Drive, Reigate RH2 7LS. Find Woodhatch Food Club on Google Maps
• Wednesdays, 1pm to 2:15pm
• Telephone: 0782 535 1472
• Email: charlie.griswood@reigate-banstead.gov.uk

Other help available

• What to do if you are having difficulty paying your Council Tax
• Visit our money support pages for more information about how the Council and other organisations can help
• Find out more and check whether you are eligible for the Household Support Fund