Lifeafterhummus provides food aid by operating a social supermarket and re-use centre for 80 local households and a redistribution network that supports 11 local hostels, 1 after-school club and a faith group. We are powered by 50 local volunteers and a growing number of resident volunteers who collect surplus from 45 stores weekly and support the FTE of 2 members of staff.

Homes we support have access to what we call our 'Room of things'. People here can access: clothing, household items, stationery items, toys and children books. Plus small items of furniture and white goods when we have them. On a pilot project access to the room was also been given to recently arrived Ukrainians and Afghan families in bridging hotels on a referral basis. We do monthly outreach sessions at the local primary school and have permanent pre-loved clothing rails and collection points at the local secondary school. We also operate a surplus food cart outside of the centre and a passive clothing rail. We are planning to bring back cooking classes in our activities rooms and waste prevention specific activities when appropriate funding is found. We are currently running a feasibility project in partnership with Camden Council and funded by the GLA to create an ultra low food waste zone and increase the amount of surplus we collect and redistribute to 15 tonnes a month. In-house we support circa 300 people/ 80 local households with approximately 125 children. The homes we support have been assessed. They are struggling financially - following the impacts of the pandemic and now the cost of living crisis. The cost of living crisis means we have more homes on our waiting list. We are only as strong as the amount of volunteers we have and the amount of stores and corporates that partner with us to collect their surplus. Surplus food supports the local community and provides businesses with a way to support the local community and reduce the wastage costs. We are able to provide them with monitoring information. Collections are made by bicycle, foot and by car. We calculate carbon emissions avoided. We redistribute circa 5 tonnes of surplus per month. Our volunteers are able to assist us with CV writing, interview practice sessions. This means we have placed 8 people back into employment. We need more corporate to partners with us on employability: from interview practice sessions, looking at local vacancies, tech support, funding and aspirational sessions with young people and those where English is an additional language.

2021.10.29 Leaflet COP26 CCCA LAH

We are able to provide this level of support thanks to the nationwide and local funders, personal donations, support from the council and some corporate partners. Our rent alone is £10,500pa and we have seen our utilities double. Wastage costs for us alone is £400 per quarter thanks to a discount from Veolio which we appreciate. We are also a London Living-Waged employer. Essentials we still purchase averages £150 every 2 weeks. Cost of living crisis isn't going away any time soon and we need your help to meet increased demand. We are just scratching the surface on what is possible to create a waste-free Camden.

We would like to set-up:

  • Collection points at local businesses for food, clothing and household items
  • Assess to PAT tested WEEE that businesses no longer need
  • Volunteering opportunities for local businesses
  • Education days around waste prevention with local businesses
  • Conversation with contract caterers to access frozen-down food and surplus
  • Waste prevention activities at local schools such as passive clothing swaps
  • Better advertisement by the council of the work we do and the volunteering opportunities we have
  • To expand the employability we are doing
  • Pilot collection and waste drives on local estates in collobaration with the council
  • and more referral partners to our 'Room of things' for anyone in need of clothing, etc

If you wish to support the work we do by donating money you can:

1) You can donate via our Local Giving page:
https://localgiving.org/charity/lifeafterhummus/
2) Donate by bank transfer:
Lifeafterhummus Community Benefit Society Limited
Lloyds Bank Treasurer’s Account - Branch sort code: 30-90-89 - Account no.: 39836268

 

FUNDERS:

View our 6 month data impact report here.

See our latest set of accounts here.

Do you offer corporate volunteer day? Yes we do, click here to find out more.

COMMUNITY RESEARCH:

"Ensuring equitable access to primary healthcare in Regent's Park and St Pancras and Somers Town wards in Camden - Obstances and solutions"

The findings of this report are a result of a community action research project conducted by Lifeaftrhummus community researchers between November 2022 and April 2023. This was commissioned by Voluntary Action Camden and Public Health Camden and Islington. The research was carried out to answer the following questions:

‘What are the major obstacles preventing the residents of Regent’s Park and St Pancras Somers Town wards from accessing good primary healthcare appointments?’ 

‘What are the solutions to ensure access to good primary healthcare appointments in the area?’
Click here to read the full report and proposed solutions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BX3Q-YeTjt5D-OCn4gULtIvEDGYtVHn2pOO6YmgSh3E/

 

"A Report into Housing Conditions in Phoenix Court: The Case for Retrofit"

The purpose of this report is to highlight and identify any possible environmental issues residents of Phoenix Court face in their homes. Further to simply listing such issues, the report’s main aim is to elaborate how residents’ quality of life is impacted. In order to gather this qualitative data, we carried out a series of in-depth interviews with residents. Importantly, residents were invited to explain in their own words the various and nuanced consequences of living day to day over many years in such poor housing conditions. The report’s main findings are the high prevalence of mould, cold, condensation and damp within homes. Residents consistently described negative impacts on their physical and psychological health, social lives as well as financial hardship and difficulty achieving thermal comfort in their homes.

 

Phoenix Court was chosen as a case study for this report as residents had approached Lifeafterhummus Community Benefit Society with concerns over housing conditions. The number of concerns raised, and their similarity, has made it apparent that strong action needs to be taken to improve the thermal efficiency and environmental conditions in Phoenix Court. As outlined in this report, the desperate improvements that are needed stand not only to make Phoenix Court a more energy efficient building, but importantly, they offer an immediate and effective solution to improving residents’ quality of life. Not only can residents’ lived experiences be improved by a potential retrofit, but there is also a possibility to achieve substantial carbon savings. This makes Phoenix Court an ideal candidate for a retrofit project as part of the Somers Town Future Neighbourhood scheme.
Click here to read the full report and proposed solutions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h-0AzeJ5bdC8AumxuG8TJers5yoXrxxF/

 

About the community service that we provide:

For the resident's of St Pancras and Somers Town ward, we offer the following:

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Volunteer 3 hours every 2 weeks for access to £2 weekly food shop (value of circa £40)

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Social prescriptions: Debt advice, welfare rights, domestic violence support

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Employability and additional support

Get some SUPPORT

Do you live in the area and need support? Please click the button below and fill out a self-referral form:

Become a VOLUNTEER

Do you live locally? Would you like volunteer at the centres? Please complete this volunteer sign-up form:

Become a COMMUNITY PARTNER

Are you a community organisation, tenants residents association, community group looking for extra support for local residents? Email us info@lifeafterhummus.com:

How to DONATE by bank transfer:
Lifeafterhummus Community Benefit Society Limited
Lloyds Bank Treasurer’s Account - Branch sort code: 30-90-89 - Account no.: 39836268

You can also donate via our Local Giving page:
https://localgiving.org/charity/lifeafterhummus/

Meet the Team

Founded in the summer of 2016, Lifeafterhummus is Community Benefit Society (FCA registration number 7808) is BME-Led, run with the help of our amazing local volunteers without whom we just wouldn't be able to function. Farrah Rainfly is the Operations Manager, Sharmin is our primary coordinator are our part-time Centre Coordinators are Sarah, Joanne and Aisha. We have a volunteer board of directors. You can find out more about the society on the Mutuals Public Society: https://mutuals.fca.org.uk/Search/Society/7723. We are also a member of the Cooperatives UK.

farrah

Farrah Rainfly - Operations Manager and volunteer

Ellie Abbott - Centre Coordinator

Hiring for second Centre Coordinator