Funding for Food Support Schemes

Hampshire County Council is inviting funding applications from organisations:

• Wishing to open community pantries in areas in need, or to support an existing community pantry that helps provide households with affordable food.
• Are a food bank that supports households in crisis.
• Local food partnerships wishing to build sustainable approaches to food support.

A total fund of £600,000 has been made available from the County Council’s share of the Household Support Fund. There will be two planned windows for application:

• 2 December 2024 to 15 December 2024 for existing food banks and community pantries for the purchase of additional food up to a maximum of £5,000
• 6 January 2025 to 19 January 2025 – Food support schemes – both existing and new – start up and infrastructure costs; also for sustainable projects such as surplus food redistribution
• 13 January 2025 to 26 January 2025 for existing food banks and community pantries for the purchase of additional food up to a maximum of £5,000, that did not apply in the 2 December 2024 to 15 December 2024 round

Every district in Hampshire has at least one community pantry, some of which are part of the Community Pantry Network supported by Hampshire County Council. Community pantries build local partnerships to help reduce food waste and to gain support with food donations to make available to local people.

There are currently 27 community pantries operating across the Hampshire network, as well as mobile larders operating in some areas. Pantries all work on the same principle – for a small contribution each week, shoppers can select and take home food and household goods worth around £15.

For a full list, visit the Community pantries page.

Every district in Hampshire has food banks operating in their area who provide households food and support at times of crisis. Food banks can offer support to help households move on from their time of crisis.

Some districts have Local Food Partnerships set up who are cross-sector bodies that own and drive forward agendas on their local food system. They are a forum for community and voluntary organisations, councils, other public bodies and businesses to work together to achieve their local agenda.

The County Council welcomes applications from all existing community pantries, food banks and local food partnerships, along with any organisation considering setting up a new pantry in their community for those in need.  Visit the website to apply for a community pantry grant and for further information and application details.

Local community groups are invited to apply for funding to open a new community pantry in a high need area, or for support to an established community pantry, food bank or local food partnership that will help provide vulnerable families with food or with access to food.

Applying for community pantry and food support scheme funding

Organisations wishing to apply for a grant will in most cases be a registered community or voluntary sector organisation. This includes faith groups, youth organisations, town, parish and community councils, schools, colleges, and early years settings. A local food partnership will have a visible presence in their district and will be a partnership that includes members from the community or voluntary sector organisations.

Applications from private sector organisations may be considered if it is evidenced that there is no generation of profit.

Organisations bidding for funding should ensure that their intended project does not duplicate the local services provided by existing pantries supported through the connect4communities programme.

Before completing the form, applicants should read the  application guidance.

Applications for funding support services, sessions or training to benefit services users will also be considered in Round 2, subject to sufficient funding being available. 

If you are a community pantry and receive funding, your organisation will become part of Hampshire County Council’s Community Pantry Network. The network offers support via monthly network meetings, regular communications, sharing of information, development of resources, along with access to the online Community Pantry Information Hub, and the support of Hampshire County Council’s Food Insecurity Partnerships Officer.

This map shows the differences in food insecurity risk as defined by the University of Southampton across the county, with the darkest localities experiencing the most, and the lightest the least.

The funding applied for should be committed by 31 March 2025, with the delivery period as soon as practically possible thereafter.

When and how to apply

You can apply for this grant during the community pantries and food support scheme grants application window from:

• 2 December 2024 to 15 December 2024, for existing food banks and community pantries for the purchase of additional food up to a maximum of £5,000
• 6 January 2025 to 19 January 2025 – Food support schemes – both existing and new – start up and infrastructure costs & for sustainable projects such as surplus food redistribution
• 13 January 2025 to 26 January 2025, for existing food banks and community pantries for the purchase of additional food up to a maximum of £5,000, that did not apply in the 2 December 2024 to 15 December 2024 round

If you wish to have a discussion with the Food Insecurity Partnerships Officer before applying for funding, please email [email protected] to arrange a call.