Food Banks

Food Boxes

You can self-refer to a distribution centre see list below for details.

Please call the distribution centre before leaving to ensure the right size box is available. Generally a food box will supply food aid for up to a week. This is only intended to be an emergency short term solution.

The standard food box aims to support a family of 4 for 5 days, each box weighs around 12kg, so please bear this in mind when collecting your food box.

Other boxes are available upon request:​

  • Baby Boxes 
  • Homeless Boxes 
  • Limited Cooking Facility Boxes
  • ​Personal Hygiene Boxes
  • Pet Food Boxes

All boxes are subject to stock availability.

Distribution Centres

You can self-refer or redeem food bank vouchers at the following centres. Please take I.D with you and evidence of the number of children you have.

Pneuma Church – Ashford Works, Cobbs Wood Industrial Estate, Brunswick Road, TN23 1EH. Tel: 01233 331919 (Mon-Fri 9.00-12noon)​

Ivy Court Surgery, Recreation Ground Road, Tenterden, TN30 6RB. Tel: 07745694748 (Mon-Fri 8.00-6.30 & Sat 8.00-11.00)

EC30 – Tenterden, TN30 6RA. Tel: 01580 765518/07919 381827 (7 days a week)

St Mildreds Church Vicarage – Church Road, Tenterden, TN30 6AT. Tel: 01580 761591/07805840493 (7 days a week 8am-7pm)

St Marys Willesborough – Willesborough, Ashford TN24 0YR. Tel: 07583418386 (Wed & Thurs Fri 9.30 – 12.30)

St Marys Church, Church Road, Kennington, TN24 9DQ. Tel: 01233 620433. Wed 10.30am – 12noon & Sunday 11.00am – 12noon

The Well (Willesborough Baptist Church) – Hythe Rd, Willesborough, TN24 0QR. Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday 9.00am – 12noon. Tel: 01233 632739

Boxes of Hope – First Floor, 65 High Street, TN24 8SG . Tel: 01233 340194 (Please call to make an appointment before collecting. Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri 10.00-1.00pm)

The Moat Foundation, Stanhope Community Hub – 67 Otterden Close, Stanhope, Ashford, TN23 5TH​

People Plus,Restart Panorama Building, Park Street, TN24 8EZ. Tel: 01233 227084 Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm

Willows Family Hub – Brookfield Rd, Ashford TN23 4EY. Tel: 03000 418800 (Mon-Thur 8.30-4.30 & Fri 8.30-4.00) FAMILIES ONLY​

Bockhanger Family Hub – 10 Belmont Rd, Kennington, Ashford TN24 9LS.  Tel: 03000 418600 (Mon-Thur 8.30-4.30 & Fri 8.30-4.00) FAMILIES ONLY

Waterside Family Hub – Turner Cl, Ashford TN24 0PQ. Tel: 03000 418700  (Mon-Thur 8.30-4.30 & Fri 8.30-4.00) FAMILIES ONLY 

Ashford North Family Hub – Mabledon Ave, Ashford TN24 8BJ. Tel: 03000 417567 (Mon-Thur 8.30-4.30 & Fri 8.30-4.00) FAMILIES ONLY 

Tenterden Family Hub – Recreation Ground Road, Tenterden, TN30 6RA. (Wed & Thur 8.30-4.30) ​Tel: 03000 418400 FAMILIES ONLY

We advise you call the distribution point before leaving to ensure the right size box is available.

Please note that ‘Family Food Boxes’ can weigh 20kg.

**Also these distribution centres collect food on behalf of the Family Food Bank; you can also donate food at Tesco Crooksfoot & Park Farm and Asda Ashford**

Kent Community Pantry

Kent Community Pantry is part of the Children and Families charity group.
KCP aims is to make healthy and nutritious food affordable!

The service will provide you with either 10 or 20 products, depending on the membership type you choose.  KCP aim to provide you with a wide selection of fresh fruit, veg, bakery products, dairy, meat, hygiene and non-food products subject to availability.
Membership starts from as little as £16.50 a month! see https://www.kentcommunitypantry.org/membership.html

The service is available at:

Stanhope Parish Hall, Otterden Close, ​Ashford, Kent, TN23 5TG
Opening Times: Every Friday ​9.00am – 10.30am

The Repton Community Shop

Repton Community Trust, through the People’s Pantry initiative, is committed to ensuring that no individual or family in our community goes without essential support. Thanks to the assistance of Ashford Borough Council, Repton Community Trust can extend their reach and provide vital resources to those in need.

The People’s Pantry is more than a food bank; it’s a hub of community connection and compassion. Whether you’re facing financial hardship or food insecurity or simply need guidance during challenging times, they are there to help.

The Repton Community Shop is based in the Community Square at the back of Repton Connect Community Centre. The Community Shop is open Monday 1pm-2pm, and Tuesday-Friday 10am-11am. 

Starting at a donation of £1.50 for every £5 worth of items, you are able to get a maximum of £20 worth of shopping for just £6!

The centre works just like a normal shop, pick up a basket and make your way around the shop selecting the items you need, then once you’ve found all you need, take the basket to the checkoot. Please remember to bring your own bags and also Tupperware should you wish to use the cereal, pasta, or rice dispensers. You’ll also be able to help yourself to some of the FREE items in the Community Fridge.

SE Kitchen

SE kitchen at 22 Bank Street TN23 1BE is a social supermarket that offers a wide range of seasonal groceries at reduced prices, helping you stretch your budget and reduce food waste. Best of all, anyone can shop here—no membership, referral, or sign-up required. The shop is open from Monday to Saturday 09:00 – 17:00.

Crisis and Resilience Fund (formally Housing Support Fund)

The Household Support Fund Round 7 closed on 28th February 2026, it is to be replaced by the Crisis and Resilience Fund. Kent Support and Assistance Fund (KSAS) is also closed

The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) has been made available to Kent County Council to support low-income households who encounter a financial shock and to support activity that builds individual and community financial resilience. This funding covers the period of 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029 inclusive. This includes specified funding for housing support. 

Who is eligible

The Fund is intended to support a wide range of low-income households and, as such, Crisis Payments are not limited to those in receipt of benefits. 

What is available

A crisis could be for the provision of food, utilities, household goods or other essentials. For this reason, KCC will adopt a cash-first approach to awarding Crisis Payments. A cash-first approach prioritises cash payments (including physical and digital methods such as physical cash, bank transfer and cash-out vouchers), however, cash-first does not mean cash-only.

There will be instances where awarding vouchers is preferable to cash payments. KCC will treat awards on a case-by-case basis and use their discretion when to award vouchers over cash payments.  

There may be instances where provision of goods in-kind is the most appropriate mechanism of Crisis Payment as KCC can use their economies of scale to obtain items that are of better value for money than if the applicant purchased directly. This could include where an individual is moving into unfurnished accommodation or the breakage of essential items, such as fridge-freezers and cookers.

Families with children  

KCC will use their discretion to prioritise funding efficiently within their own CRF schemes, including when considering how best to support families in crisis to ensure the poorest children do not go hungry in the school holidays. This may not be through the blanket provision of vouchers to those on free-school meals.

KCC will also consider how the needs of affected families will continue to be met through the CRF’s Resilience Services and Authorities’ wider local welfare offer. This could include: 

  • ensuring families eligible for Free School Meals are aware of and can access Resilience Services. Particularly support to ensure families are claiming all welfare support they are entitled to. 
  • coordination with the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme, which supports children from lower-income families by providing free meals and enriching activities during school holidays. Authorities can choose to use the CRF funding to supplement or expand HAF provision, where it aligns with the Fund’s outcomes on resilience.  
  • engaging with families at risk of food insecurity by working closely with schools and Family Hubs. 
  • community food aid that promotes the development of new, creative approaches that align with CRF outcomes to build resilient local food landscapes

Apply for assistance

Please contact Ashford Borough Citizens Advice for assistance in making an application

The Crisis and Resilience Fund is funded by UK government

The Mildred Trust

Rural Community Compassion in Action. Creating equality of opportunity for people in rural areas including Tenterden and the surrounding areas.

The Mildred Trust’s longer-term objectives are:

  1. Reducing food insecurity
  2. Increasing social opportunities and participation
  3. Increasing local partnerships and collective impact

Their current projects include:

  • The Old School House Larder. Free grocery, household and hygiene products for all local families with children under 18: Tuesday evenings EC30, Recreational Ground Road, Tenterden, TN30 6HT 5:15pm-6:15pm and Friday mornings Tenterden Family Hub.
  • New community shop/social supermarket in Tenterden Leisure Centre
  • New community Fridge opening in Tenterden Leisure Centre.
  • Community events and activities

Visit The Mildred Trust Facebook page.

Tel: 07745 694748 for further information.

Pet Food Boxes

The RSPCA Pet Food Bank Team provides pet food, supplies, guidance, and assistance to support owners and their pets during challenging times. Our services include pet food provision, advice and support, and face-to-face community events offering help in the heart of our communities.