Havering Food Alliance Pantry Pack Project – supporting local schools
About the Havering Food Alliance
Led by Tapestry, the Havering Food Alliance is a borough-wide partnership working to tackle food insecurity and build a fairer, healthier, and more sustainable food system across Havering. The alliance unites schools, food pantries, community hubs, faith groups, food charities, retailers, growers, and local government to drive collaborative action that ensures every resident has access to good food.
Our Mission
We are committed to:
- Championing practical, long-term solutions to food poverty
- Supporting schools and community pantries to deliver healthy, accessible food
- Reducing food waste by redistributing surplus to where it’s most needed
- Promoting food growing, cooking skills, and healthy eating habits
- Securing sustainable partnerships and funding to scale impact
How the Project Will Work
The Havering Food Alliance is coordinating efforts to ensure families in need—particularly those with school-aged children—are supported during school holidays when access to free school meals is limited. The Pantry Pack Project sits at the heart of this, distributing weekly packs of nutritious, easy-to-use food to families, along with recipe cards and suggested meal plans.
The project will be delivered via trusted community venues and schools, using a volunteer-led model supported by food redistribution charities and local suppliers. Referral networks will help identify families in need, and regular monitoring will ensure accountability, transparency, and responsiveness.
The Four Holiday Food Support Offers
To meet the diverse needs of families across Havering, the project proposes four flexible delivery models:
- Pop-Up Pantries
- Temporary food hubs set up in schools, children’s centres, and community venues.
- Families can collect basics like milk, fruit, and bread either for free or at a very low cost.
- Includes recipe cards and cooking inspiration to encourage healthy meals.
- Healthy Holidays Club+ Pantry
- Combines food support with children’s activity clubs.
- While children participate in fun, wellbeing-focused activities, parents collect food packs.
- Includes breakfast bags and lunch kits to reduce mealtime pressure.
- Community Pantry Add-Ons
- Builds on existing pantry models (e.g. Tapestry, Peabody).
- Provides “School Break Boxes” for member families.
- Includes links to budgeting, cooking, and welfare support for longer-term benefit.
- Holiday Kitchen Kits
- Weekly packs delivered through schools or community centres.
- Designed to include breakfast, lunch, and snacks for children during the week.
- Comes with child-friendly recipes, fresh produce vouchers, and educational resources.
What We Aim to Achieve
- Ensure no child in Havering goes hungry during the school holidays.
- Provide dignity-first food access in trusted community settings.
- Reduce reliance on crisis food support by promoting preventative, coordinated services.
- Empower families with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to prepare healthy meals.
The Havering Food Alliance is part of the national Sustainable Food Places Network and is committed to making long-term change that benefits every corner of our community.
📩 To get involved or find out more, contact us at foodforall@tapestry-uk.org
🌐 Visit https://haveringfoodalliance.org/contact
