The future of a Brixton-based charity helping to feed some of the most deprived local families is in doubt after Lambeth council announced cuts to its funding.
The blow to Healthy Living Platform (HLP),came as it was shortlisted for the national Voices to End Hunger Award.
HLP supports more than 2,000 households in Lambeth each week. It is now relying on emergency funding from the charity Impact On Urban Health to keep its surplus food hub running until November.
A Lambeth council spokesperson said: “The Healthy Living Platform does important work in our communities, and we have funded them for five years.
“We are proud of the role we played in setting up and supporting the platform in response to the unprecedented circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Due to the financial pressures the council is now under, we have taken the decision to support the charity in accessing external funding rather than funding their brilliant work directly.
“We have already helped the Healthy Living Platform secure a significant grant, and are continuing to work with the charity to apply for further grants and raise funds through other means.
“Additionally, we are intending to award them £68,000 in developer contributions via our Council’s Community Connections Fund for a new food ambassador programme that will help local people shop for food and cook more healthily.”
The hub became a lifeline to vulnerable Lambeth residents during the pandemic when it partnered with The Felix Project, which distributes surplus food, and Lambeth council to provide emergency food supplies at a time of urgent need.
Since then, it has become a cornerstone of local support – distributing around five tonnes of surplus food each week to a wide network of community groups, including refugee and asylum seeker hubs, community organisations and women’s centres.
However, the charity says its future now hangs in the balance following the termination of its contract with Lambeth council due to borough-wide budget cuts.
The funding crisis came as HLP was named a finalist in the upcoming Voices to End Hunger Awards taking place next Thursday (April 24) at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London. The awards celebrate grassroots organisations and individuals doing outstanding work in tackling food poverty.
Organised by The Advocacy Team, a political consultancy, the awards follow a national call for nominations from organisations working at the frontlines of food poverty.
Finalists were chosen for their compassion, creativity and community-led approaches to building long-term food security. HLP was nominated by The Felix Project.
“We’re honoured to be recognised nationally for the impact of our work – but the reality is we’re fighting for survival,” said Carla Thomas, managing director of HLP.
“This award is a reminder of everything at stake – and everything worth protecting.
“The hub is a critical facility that we’ve spent five years building in partnership with the council.
“We’re deeply grateful for the early investment that made the Hub what it is today, and now to Impact on Urban Health for stepping in – but the work is not done and we are still at risk of closure.
“We are calling on new partners to help protect this infrastructure and help us continue.”
As well as its food redistribution work, HLP runs three weekly community pantries across the borough, where residents can access affordable fresh produce and cupboard staples.
These spaces also serve as welcoming social hubs, where people can gather, share meals and connect with one another.
Elizabeth Maytom MBE, project manager at Lambeth South and Croydon Foodbank, said: “HLP has helped residents move from foodbanks to more dignified models like pantries.
“Losing this service will push people deeper into poverty and further strain foodbanks like us already at breaking point.”
Nikita Sinclair, head of children’s health and food programme, Impact on Urban Health, said: “We’re pleased to support Healthy Living Platform, which does valuable work tackling food insecurity in Lambeth.
“The surplus food hub is a crucial piece of infrastructure that contributes to a sustainable food network in the borough.
“Ongoing funding would ensure that nutritious food continues to reach marginalised communities and those living on lower incomes.”
Lorriann Robinson, founder and director at The Advocacy Team, said: “Food insecurity remains a significant challenge in the UK.
“Latest figures show that around one in 10 adults and nearly one in five children in the UK are experiencing food poverty – an alarming reality that demands urgent action.
“The Voices to End Hunger Awards are about honouring grassroots organisations like the Healthy Living Platform that are providing vital lifelines to some of the most vulnerable people in the UK.
“Through quiet dedication and practical solutions, they are making a real and lasting difference in people’s lives. They don’t do this work for recognition – but we believe it’s time their voices were heard and their impact celebrated.”
HLP is now seeking multi-year funding partnerships with charitable trusts, corporations, and aligned funders.
This post was amended at 1pm on 15 April to add a comment from Lambeth council
