Help with food

If you are finding it a struggle to afford food there are services in Portsmouth that can help. On this page you will find details of Foodbanks and Pantries where you can stock up on groceries, and places where you will be able to have a hot meal.

 

Food banks provide around 3 days food for your whole household if you can’t afford to buy food. Some food banks need a referral, and some can help you without being referred.

If you are visiting a food bank for the first time, you will need to take a form of ID before you can get a foodbank voucher.

Food banks accept referrals from a wide range of local community organisations, including schools and support workers. If you’re a city council tenant your local housing office can refer you. If you don’t know who can refer you, contact Advice Portsmouth (open Monday to Friday) – call 023 9279 4340, text 07789 550593 or email advice.portsmouth@theyoutrust.org.uk

 

Anyone who needs a hot meal can visit any of the services listed below. No referral needed. Please check opening times with providers over Bank Holidays, Easter and Christmas

The Portsmouth Rough Sleeping Hub is open 7 days a week from 8am-4pm. Anyone sleeping rough, or at risk of becoming homeless, can access practical support. You can book an appointment in person, or by telephone.

• Address: 6 Queen Street, Portsea, PO1 3HX
• Email: roughsleepinghub@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
• Phone: 023 9283 4188

Baffins Community Pantry – open to residents of PO3 or PO4

If you live in the Baffins Ward (all PO3 or PO4 post codes) and you’re worried about the cost of living and need to reduce your food bills, join Baffins Community Pantry (link opens in a new tab).

Membership is free. Request a membership form by email baffinspantry@gmail.com or by phone 07557 339467. Or drop in during opening times to join.  Proof of address will be needed on your first visit.

£5 per visit, maximum of one visit per week.

Opening times at 24 Tangier Road, Baffins, PO3 6JL:

• Monday, 10am–12pm
• Friday, 4pm–6pm

Cosham Community Larder and The Little Larder – open to residents of PO6 1**, PO6 2** or PO6 3**

Pay £1 per year to become a member, then just £3.50 for a bag of groceries when you shop.

Join Cosham Community Larder online, then complete your membership and provide proof of address the first time you visit the shop.

Opening times at Cosham Community Larder, Cosham Park (next to the bowling club), PO6 2SH:

• Tuesday, 10am-2pm
• Thursday, 10am-2pm

The Little Larder at St Philips’ Church

• Wednesday, 11am-1pm

Fratton Together Pantry – open to residents of Fratton ward

Pay £5 per year to become a member, and shop once a week.

Join Fratton Together Pantry by calling 07841 341969 or emailing pantry@frattontogether.org

Opening times at Fratton Together Pantry, 95 Fratton Road (the old Sue Ryder shop), Fratton, PO1 5AG

• Tuesday, 1.30pm-3.30pm

Hilsea Mobile Pantry – open to residents of PO2

For a weekly membership of £5, members of Hilsea Pantry can choose a selection of food with a value of £15 to £20 each week. The Pantry can help you top up your weekly shop, and includes fresh fruit and veg, store cupboard favourites, bread and dairy products.

Opening times at car park next to the playground, 26 Spinnaker Drive, Portsmouth, PO2 9NS

• Monday, 1pm to 2pm
• Wednesday, 10am t0 11am

Learn how to become a member online, email hilseapantry@northendbaptistchurch.com or call 07733 624 248 or 07311 826 542 with any questions.

Landport Larder – open to PO1 residents (but all are welcome if in need)

The larder is open at Landport Community Centre every Tuesday from 9am-12pm, offering a range of tinned, boxed, fresh, chilled and frozen foods which vary weekly.

Local residents can join the scheme for just £1 and buy 10 items for £3.50 (an equivalent basket at the supermarket would be about £15). Please bring your own carrier bags to take your shopping home.

North End Pantry – open to residents of all PO2 and PO3 postcodes

North End Pantry is here to help residents in the North End area to top up their weekly shop, with fresh fruit and vegetables, store cupboard favourites, bread, and chilled and frozen foods.

For a weekly cost of £5, members will be able to choose a selection of food with a value of about £20 each week.

Opening times at North End Baptist Church, 195 Powerscourt Road, PO2 7JH:

Important: North End Pantry is being refurbished and as a result will operate new opening times while the work is being done (approximately 12 weeks).

• Monday 4.30pm to 6pm
• Tuesday 2.30pm to 4pm
• Thursday 1pm to 3pm
• Friday 10am to 12pm

Entrance to the pantry during refurbishments will be via the main church entrance on Powerscourt Road.

To join North End Pantry, drop in during opening hours, or sign up online.

For more details email pantry@northendbaptistchurch.com.

Oasis Pantry – open to residents of P01 1**, P01 4**, P01 5**, P05 4**  postcodes.

For a small membership fee of £5 each week that you shop, members of the Portsmouth Oasis Pantry in Landport can do a weekly food shop for fresh fruit and vegetables and family favourites to stock up the cupboard and fridge. Find more information, contact details and become a member at Oasis Pantry.

Opening times at Oasis Pantry, Oasis the Venue, 1a Arundel Street, PO1 1NP:

• Friday, 11am-1pm

Paulsgrove Food Pantry – Open to residents of Paulsgrove and Wymering, with a PO6 postcode

Sign up to become a member of the Paulsgrove Food Pantry by dropping in or emailing paulsgrovefoodpantry@gmail.com. For £5 members can get a variety of goods. One shop per week, 10 items per shop. Membership is £1 and proof of address is needed to join.

Follow the Paulsgrove Pantry Facebook page for updates and offers.

Opening times at Paulsgrove Community Centre, Marsden Rd, PO6 4JB:

• Monday 4pm – 6pm
• Thursday 11am – 1pm

Portsea Pantry – open to residents of PO1 3** and PO! 2** post codes only

Portsea Pantry, based in the John Pounds Centre, Portsea, is offering groceries to local families for a weekly subscription of £5.

Members can buy a weekly food shop including fresh fruit and vegetables, tasty treats, and frozen, chilled and tinned goods.

Opening times at John Pounds Centre, 23 Queen St, PO1 3HN:

• Tuesday 10am – 12pm
• Thursday 4pm – 6pm

Proof of address is needed on your first visit.

To join, sign up online. If you can’t get online, sign up in person instead.

St Mag’s Pantry – open to residents of all PO4 and PO5 postcodes

For £5 per week, members can choose a selection of fresh, chilled, frozen and store cupboard food with a supermarket value of about £15-£20.

St Mag’s Pantry helps residents of all PO4 and PO5 postcodes, towards a full weekly shop. We hope to deliver fruit and vegetable items for free.

Opening times at St Margaret’s Community Church, Highland Road, PO4 9DD:

• Monday 3pm-4.30pm
• Tuesday 3pm-4.30pm
• Wednesday 10am-11.30am

Sign up online. If you have any questions, contact Pantry@stmagscc.uk or call 023 9435 1995.

Trash Café

The Trash Café Network works with food businesses to stop food waste. They put together fantastic food hampers at amazing value. Order before 8pm for collection or delivery the following day.

Trash Café offer delivery of hampers to all PO postcodes (excluding Isle of Wight) on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, or collection from Buckland Community Centre (by appointment) on Wednesdays. Follow the Trash Cafe Facebook page for updates and details of special offers.

Olio surplus food app

OLIO connects neighbours with each other and with local businesses so surplus food can be shared, not thrown away. This could be food nearing its sell-by date in local stores, spare home-grown vegetables, bread from your baker, or the groceries in your fridge when you go away. For your convenience, OLIO can also be used for non-food household items, too.

To find out more, download the free app to your smartphone using Google Play or Apple Store.

Reducing food waste

Find information and tips to help you get more from the food you buy and to help you reduce food waste