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Big Heart Food Hub
The BIG Heart Food Hub is based in Barking and acts as a central food redistribution centre, helping surplus food reach local charities, food banks, community organisations and faith groups that support residents across the borough.
Rather than residents attending the Hub directly, food is distributed through trusted local organisations and community hubs that work with people day-to-day. This helps ensure support remains local, accessible and connected to wider advice and services.
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The Hub opened in September 2026 and aims to supply tonnes of food every week. The Hub is being delivered in partnership with a growing network of organisations including:
- Barking and Dagenham Council,
- Food for All
- The Felix Project
- The Kindness Offensive
- Kingsley Hall
- and many local voluntary, community and faith organisations
See the food that’s been distributed so far on the Food for All website.
Get involved
We will be sharing more information soon, including ways local people can get involved and volunteer, so please keep an eye on the Council website and social media channels for updates.
Residents looking for wider help with the cost of living can also visit the Council’s Cost of Living Support webpage, which brings together information on financial support, food support, energy advice, employment support and other services available to residents across Barking and Dagenham.
You can find more help with food and find out more about foodbanks in the area and local partners on the Help with food page
VCFSE (Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise) groups
If you are a local charity, community group, faith organisation or food support provider interested in accessing food through the Hub, please complete our BIG Heart Food Hub Expression of Interest Form. The Hub is designed to support organisations working directly with residents across Barking and Dagenham and we are keen to hear from groups that would like to get involved.
If you are a local group and have ambitions to develop a food offer in the borough, there are additional resources and grants available for you. You can see the latest opportunities on the Grant funding opportunities page.
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