COMMUNITY LARDER
In February 2026, The St Nicholas Community Larder celebrated its 5th anniversary, having begun on a snowy day in February 2021, when a handful of us were kitted out in many layers and masks, with anti-bacterial gel at the ready. That day we had around half a dozen guests, one of whom is still with us as part of the team. From those humble beginnings, we have continued to give out food to between 30-40 households each week throughout the year. In 2025 we gave out over 1030 food parcels. The team has now grown to a team of between 15-20 trained volunteers who give up their time every week to make this project happen. We do not know why everyone comes to the Larder and we do not need to know. No referral is needed to access our services, and everyone is welcome. Some are concerned about food waste, some love the company, while for many it makes a real difference to what they and their families can eat. We hear about people who are really struggling, and we are glad we can be part of their support. We are also able to direct people to support organisations such as Christians Against Poverty (CAP) and South East London Community Energy (SELCE).
The idea for the Community Larder began when a couple of us visited a Community Larder on the Sherwood Estate on the edge of Tunbridge Wells in late 2020. Subsequent visits followed to the Community Fridge on the Ramsden Estate in Orpington, and Open Kitchen at Christ Church, Charterhouse Road. Similar initiatives had already begun in 2020, and St Nicholas requested formally to join with other food providers across Bromley Borough as part of the ‘Transform Bromley Borough Food Partnership’, becoming a member of the partnership in early 2021. The TBB Food Partnership now numbers thirteen partner institutions across the Borough, from Penge to the Crays. We continue to work closely with our partner organisations in Orpington, both picking up leftover food from Open Kitchen in Charterhouse Road and passing our own leftovers to the Community Fridge on the Ramsden Estate. When we opened the Community Larder in 2021, our aims were simple – to reduce food waste and food poverty. These aims seemed to fit naturally with our stated vision as a church of ‘transforming our community through the presence of Christ’.
Volunteers for the team come from St Nicholas, St Giles, members of other churches and some people with no church background. Each volunteer is committed to the same aims. We believe that the Larder has a significant impact on the lives of those who receive food each week. In addition, one ‘side benefit’ has been that the team itself has become a small community. Each week, before we open the doors, we make time to pause for a cup of tea or coffee and a short time of prayer together. We finish our prayers with a prayer from Numbers, ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace’ (Numbers 6:24-26). Since 2023 our Community Larder has also functioned as a ‘Warm Space’, where we set up half the hall with tables so our guests can have a chat and refreshments after collecting from the tables. Again a small community has formed amongst our guests, as many have made new friends from their weekly visit.
The Community Larder is extremely fortunate to receive regular weekly donations from the TBB Food Hub behind the Walnuts, Waitrose Green Street Green, the Orpington Co-op, Sainsbury’s in Chislehurst, Greggs in Cotmandene, and the local ‘Brothers’ bakery. We never know how much we will get and having experienced a number of occasions over the past couple of years when donations have been low, we now run an occasional fund raiser, such as a quiz night. Originally this was to purchase long life goods. We now also purchase on occasions meat, cheese, eggs or frozen meals so that hopefully our guests can have enough for at least one good meal each week.
We now also make quarterly contributions to the running costs of the TBB Food Hub, as well as annual contributions towards the cost of using the St Nicholas building. With that in mind, we are looking to raise £1500 through various fundraising initiatives in 2026, such as our quiz night on the 21st March. Everyone is welcome to join us at the quiz, and places can be reserved by emailing faresharequiz@gmail.com. As we celebrate our 5th anniversary, we are grateful for God’s provision over the years and pray that he will continue to sustain and direct us in our ongoing ministry.
Stephen Broadie
More about the Community Larder
The Community Larder is run in conjunction with a charity called FareShare ’https://fareshare.org.uk/FareShare distributes unused food from local supermarkets and wholesalers, with the aim of supplying a wide range of groceries and fresh food to the local community, while also reducing food waste. We are very grateful to the local supermarkets for their support providing not only food nearing its sell by date but also providing many staple foods which can feed whole families.
 |
 |
Since 9th February 2021 word has spread, the weather has improved and the Community Larder has flourished. More people are accessing this service each week. If you know of anyone who would benefit from a delivery of some fresh bakeries, fruit and vegetables or other groceries, please contact larder@st-nicholas.church with details.
 |
 |
Whether you come because you are struggling, or because you don’t want to see good food going into landfill we are delighted to welcome you at
We are now also opening up our building as a 'Warm Space' from 10.30am - 12.30pm every Tuesday. Anyone can come along and enjoy the Warm Space from 10.30am, and will also be able to access free fresh food and grocery items from the Community Larder from 11.30am onwards, along with a free cup of tea or coffee. Please do advertise the Community Larder and the Warm Space initiative to anyone you know who may be interested.
The larder is open at St Nicholas Church, Leamington Avenue, Orpington BR6 9QB on
Tuesday mornings from 11.30am. Contact: larder@st.nicholas.church
CONTACTS
About FareShare
FareShare is the UK’s longest running food redistribution charity. We were born out of the belief that no good food should go to waste, especially when people are going hungry. This belief is as central to our work now as it was 25 years ago.
Visit https://fareshare.org.uk/