Today, Farzeen, Amraz and I volunteered at the KingsGate Student Pantry in Kingston. This social supermarket enables university students to access £25–£30 worth of weekly groceries, toiletries and cleaning essentials for just £5.

During the session, Farzeen and I assisted students at the fresh produce station, where we offered recipe ideas and helped students discover new ingredients, including passion fruit and leek. Amraz coordinated student entry at the front, calling out group numbers to keep everything running smoothly.

Having previously supported KingsGate Church with donation sorting and deliveries, it was rewarding to see the final stage of the operation and the full impact of that hard work in action. This weekly pantry provides vital support to students navigating cost-of-living challenges and food insecurity. In addition to affordable food, the church offers a welcoming space where students can enjoy a hot drink, learn low-cost recipes through live cooking demonstrations and access pastoral support.

KingsGate Church’s weekly pantry is a fantastic community initiative that directly addresses student food insecurity and the ongoing cost-of-living pressures. We love this social supermarket model and truly believe it should be replicated everywhere!

We strongly commend KingsGate Church for this practical community response and look forward in volunteering with them again.