Nourishing Norfolk Network

The Nourishing Norfolk Network brings together groups of all sizes who work at grassroots level to ensure communities have access to affordable, healthy food. Established in 2022, the network provides mutual support, advice and information to help combat food insecurity and make sure no one in Norfolk goes hungry.
Want to know what that looks like in practice? Watch our video explaining the ins and outs of our food programme.

Food hubs open

We found 26 results.

A wide-angle shot of The Burrell Store social supermarket, Thetford. Shelves, fridges and freezers are neatly stacked with food.

Burrell Shop

Location: Breckland

The Burrell Shop located in the Charles Burrell Centre, Thetford, was the first of the Nourishing Norfolk food hubs to open. Support from Breckland Council, Feeding Britain and Norfolk Community Foundation meant the Burrell Shop could open in early November 2020. Members can buy fresh, frozen, dried, and tinned food, alongside toiletries and personal care items.

Where is it?

Charles Burrell Centre, Thetford, IP24 3LH

When is it open?

Tuesday 2pm-6pm, Wednesday and Thursday 9am-1pm

Who can I contact about it?

Get in touch with the team – shop@charlesburrellcentre.org.uk

Caister Community Larder

Location: Great Yarmouth

The Community Larder is for anyone who needs help with food and other essentials – offering a bag of up to 15 items chosen from the larder shelves for just £3. Tea and coffees are also available. This is a community initiative from Caister Cares – a group that includes the Parish Church, the local schools, the parish council and others.

Where is it?

Caister Community Spoon, King George V Playing Field, Caister-on-Sea, NR30 5LU

When is it open?

Monday 3:30-6pm and Friday 9-11am

Who can I contact about it?

Email the team at: cclarder@gmail.com

A blue van is parked outside a community centre.

Coastal Community Supermarket

Location: North Norfolk, West Norfolk

The Coastal Community Supermarket is a mobile offer, currently operating in North and West Norfolk. Members can buy fresh, frozen, dried, and tinned food, alongside toiletries and personal care items. Some items are available for free.

Where is it?

Rural communities across North and West Norfolk, including Wells, Holt, Walsingham and Hunstanton.

When is it open?

See Facebook page for details.

Who can I contact about it?

Get in touch with Simon – simon.prince@wellshospital.uk

The Community Pantry, North Walsham

Location: North Norfolk

The Community Pantry is delivered by the North Walsham Phoenix Group to provide reduced-priced food and essential items in the NR28 area.

Where is it?

12 Market Place, North Walsham, Norfolk England, NR28 9BQ

When is it open?

Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10:00am-4:00pm

Who can I contact about it?

Get in touch with Mal – phoenixgroup.northwalsham@gmail.com

Two people stand outside Dereham Food Cabin, a purpose-built social supermarket with a central double-door

Dereham Food Cabin

Location: Breckland

Dereham Food Cabin provides a range of fresh, ambient and household items from its bespoke to those on a low income in the Dereham area. The bespoke cabin is a Wellspring Family Centre Project and is located next to the centre and church.

Where is it?

Wellspring Family Centre, 35 Neatherd Road, Dereham, NR19 2AE

When is it open?

Wednesday 10am-12pm and Friday 5pm-7pm

Who can I contact about it?

Get in touch with Jayne Olley (Cabin Coordinator) – foodcabin@wfcdereham.org, or Toby Rouse (Operations Manager) – ops@wfcdereham.org

A board that says 'Shop Open' outside the Earlham Community Shop.

Earlham Community Shop

Location: Norwich

Earlham Community Shop is full of low priced groceries and household products, designed to help people with the current cost of living. Currently available to parents of children at Earlham Early Years Centre.

Where is it?

Earlham Early Years Centre, Cadge Rd, Norwich NR5 8DB

When is it open?

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 11:15-11:45am and 12:15-12:45pm, Wednesday 11:15-11:45am, 12:15-12:45pm and 2:45-3:15pm

Who can I contact about it?

Get in touch with Nicky – earlhamcommunityshop@gmail.com 

Fresh fruit and vegetables at the Russell Street Community Centre

ENYP Social Supermarket

Location: Norwich

The ENYP Social Supermarket located in the heart of Heigham Grove, Norwich. Members can buy fresh, frozen, dried, and tinned food, alongside toiletries and personal care items.

Where is it?

Russell Street Community Centre, 53 Russell St, Norwich NR2 4QT

When is it open?

Monday 4pm-6pm, Tuesday 6pm-8pm, Wednesday 11am-1pm, Thursday 1pm-3pm, and Friday 9am-11am

Who can I contact about it?

Please contact: socialsupermarket@enyp.org.uk

Fakenham Food Fellowship

Location: North Norfolk

EP Youth have developed their fantastic community food project into the affordable Fakenham Food Hub. The hub will provide fresh, chilled, ambient and household items at affordable prices for members within Fakenham.

Where is it?

11 Oak Street, Fakenham, NR21 9DX

When is it open?

Monday to Thursday, 11am-1.30pm and Friday (by appointment only), 11.30am-1.30pm

Who can I contact about it?

Get in touch with Christina – fakenhamfoodfellowship@hotmail.com or call 01328 851020

The Feed Social Supermarket

Location: Norwich

The Feed’s Social Supermarket caters to residents Norwich. Located on the city side of Hall Road, this social supermarket provides members with discounted fresh, chilled and frozen food, plus toiletries and cleaning materials. With the help of other local partners, The Feed also runs workshops and classes in their adjoining Community Café, providing additional support and advice on things like cooking, money, housing and employment.

Where is it?

65 Hall Road, Norwich, NR1 3HL

When is it open?

Monday – Friday 10am – 3pm

Who can I contact about it?

Get in touch with the team – info@thefeed.org.uk

Vegetables on display at a small shop

Feltwell Food Pantry

Location: Breckland

The Feltwell Pantry work alongside St Mary’s Church in Feltwell to provide good quality affordable food to local people. Funding for this has been supported by Norfolk Community Foundation and Feeding Britain. Opening on 11th October 2021, the pantry caters to the 8 local villages of Feltwell, Hockwold-cum-Wilton, Southery, Lakenheath, Mundford, Methwold, Northwold.

Where is it?

St Mary’s Church, Bell Street, Feltwell, Thetford, IP26 4AA

When is it open?

Wednesday 9-11:30am and Saturday 12:30-2:00pm

Who can I contact about it?

Get in touch with the team – thefoodpantryfeltwell@outlook.com

Find your food hub

 

Hubs? Pantries? Supermarkets?

There are efforts to alleviate food insecurity, here’s a guide to just a few:

Community Fridges and Larders – Usually open to anyone in the community, fridges and larders offer a limited selection of food that can be taken for free. This could be fresh or ambient products, usually donated locally. These fridges are often unstaffed, but monitored by volunteers, and can be located anywhere.

Food Pantry – Food pantries are often members-only, and often charge small amounts for their food – either per item or per visit – to contribute to the cost of purchasing stock. They are bigger than a community fridge and tend to offer a greater choice of products, sometimes buying in stock and taking advantage of larger food distribution networks, such as FareShare or HiS Church. They may also make up emergency food parcels. They are staffed, primarily by volunteers, and are usually located in villages and small towns.

Community Supermarket – Like a food pantry, community supermarkets have a membership system that allows customers to buy food at heavily discounted rates. They also tend to buy in more food, as well as personal and household hygiene items and they also take advantage of food redistribution networks. Community Supermarkets often deliver other services, such as hot meals, cookery classes or personalised advice on tackling an individual’s food insecurity and linking into wider support services. They may also make up emergency food parcels.  They are staffed, primarily by volunteers but sometimes have one or two paid members of staff, and are usually located in more built-up areas, like large housing estates or towns.

Food hubs in action

Since opening the first food hub in Thetford in November 2020, food hubs using a range of different models have opened across the county.

Watch the video below to see a number of food hubs in action and the difference they’re making to communities in Norfolk.

Liz talks to a customer at the Love Downham shop. The shop is stocked with essential groceries. Liz wears blue dungarees and the customer wears a blue denim dress.

How can I help?

We need Norfolk to help Norfolk. If you want to join this innovative project, please consider:

  • Food producers can help people on their doorstep by donating surpluses locally. Talk to Victoria to find out more.
  • Volunteer your time at your local food hub.
  • Making a donation. We need funds that match the scale of the issue. Donate here.

If you can support us in helping to ensure no one in Norfolk goes hungry, then please get in touch.