Get food from Luton Foodbank

If you can't afford food, you can arrange an assessment to find out whether you qualify for a food voucher.
Click to see some of the reasons people need our help
  • Waiting for benefit to start
  • Changed benefits
  • Benefits sanctioned
  • Stopped benefits
  • Unemployment
  • Debt
  • Sickness
  • Lack of free school meals during holidays
  • Asylum / Immigration
  • Street homelessness
  • Sofa surfing
  • Family crisis
  • Crisis Support refused
  • Covid-related emergency (e.g., loss of working hours)

 

How to get food

Contact us by emailing info@lutonfoodbank.org.uk or calling 01582 725838 (Mon-Fri, 8.30am-4pm) Our advisors can assess your situation, and arrange food parcels where appropriate. They can also signpost you to other organisations for advice on debt, housing, etc, but you can also find this sort of information by clicking here. If you email or leave a message, we'll try to get back to you within 3 to 5 days. If we can't get through at the first attempt, we'll try again later. 

If you prefer not to contact us directly, you can choose one of the referral methods below. If you'd rather not use Luton Foodbank at all, you can see a list of alternative providers by clicking here.

If you have children under 5...
If you have children under 5, contact your local Children’s Centre. You can find children's centres in Luton Council's Family Directory.
If you have school-aged children...
Your school's family worker may be able to help. Your children may even qualify for free school meals. Visit Luton Council's website for information on how to apply, even for school holidays.
Otherwise...
Please contact only one of the following...

Luton Borough Council crisis support: Freephone 0800 4561673 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5.30pm)

Citizens Advice helpline: Freephone 0808 278 7847 (See Citizens Advice website for times.) Citizens Advice also offers online chat, but it's a national service so may not be the best choice for you.

 
Distribution Centres

If you qualify for food parcels, your referrer will ask you to select the most convenient location to collect your food. Your visit is treated as confidential, and food bags do not have any foodbank markings etc. It's important that you try to attend the distribution session you chose, to help us ensure we have the correct amount at each session. 

Mondays: MARSH FARM

Futures House Community Halls, The Moakes, Marsh Farm, LU3 3QB

Telephone Luton Foodbank: 01582 725838

Time: Monday, 11am-1pm. Cut-off time for same-day referral: 10.00am.

Cut-off time for same-day referral to Marsh Farm is 10am. We cannot guarantee to honour referrals taking place after 10am on the same day, because the voucher will not have been processed before the van leaves our warehouse.

Tuesdays: DALLOW
Dallow Learning Community Centre, 234 Dallow Rd, LU1 1TB

Telephone Luton Foodbank: 01582 725838

Time: Tuesday, 1.00pm-3.00pm. Cut-off time for same-day referral: 12.00 midday.

Cut-off time for same-day referral to Dallow is midday. We cannot guarantee to honour referrals taking place after midday on the same day, because the voucher will not have been processed before the van leaves our warehouse.

Wednesdays: STOPSLEY

Stopsley Baptist Church, St Thomas’ Road, LU2 7XP

Telephone Luton Foodbank: 01582 725838

Time: Wednesday, 1pm-3pm. Cut-off time for same-day referral: midday.

Cut-off time for same-day referral to Stopsley on Wednesday is midday. We cannot guarantee to honour referrals taking place after midday on the same day, because the voucher will not have been processed before the van leaves our warehouse.

Thursdays: TOWN CENTRE
Luton Central Library, St George's Square, LU1 2NG

LIBRARY DISTRIBUTION WILL BE CLOSED ON THESE DATES:

28th March, 4th April, 11th April.

On these dates, we will be distributing from Hightown Community Sports & Arts Centre, York Street, LU2 0JD.


Telephone Luton Foodbank: 01582 725838

Time: Thursday, midday-2pm. Cut-off time for same-day referral: 11am.

Cut-off time for same-day referral to Luton Central Library on Wednesday is 11am. We cannot guarantee to honour referrals taking place after 11am on the same day, because the voucher will not have been processed before the van leaves our warehouse.

Fridays: HIGH TOWN
Hightown Community Sports & Arts Centre, York Street, LU2 0JD

(Pedestrian entrance: Taylor Street. Accessible & vehicle entrance: York Street.)

Telephone Luton Foodbank: 01582 725838

Time: Friday, 1pm-3pm. Cut-off time for same-day referral: 12.00 midday.

Cut-off time for same-day referral to High Town on Thursday is 12 midday. We cannot guarantee to honour referrals taking place after 12 noon on the same day, because the voucher will not have been processed before the van leaves our warehouse.

Saturdays: TOWN CENTRE
Discover Islam, 37c Upper George St, LU1 2RD

Telephone: 01582 452356

Time: Saturday, 10am-midday

Cut-off time for referral to Discover Islam on Saturday is 3pm on the previous day. We cannot guarantee to honour referrals taking place after 3pm on the previous day, because the voucher will not have been processed before the van leaves our warehouse.


 

Get food from alternative organisations


 

Get advice from local and national organisations

If you are facing a crisis and can't afford enough food, please contact us by emailing advisors@lutonfoodbank.org.uk or calling 07736 993223 (Mon-Wed, 10am-3pm) or 07736 993225 (Wed-Fri, 10am-3pm). If you email or leave a message, we'll try to get back to you within 3 to 5 days. If we can't get through at the first attempt, we'll try again later.

For advice on other matters, please click the appropriate issue below.

Welfare benefits, benefits appeals, and Tax Credits
Organisation name: Luton Rights

Website: lutonrights.org

Service: They provide confidential and impartial advice, free of charge.

Appointments: These are arranged through Citizens Advice - call 0808 278 7847 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-3.30pm)

First-time Universal Credit claims
Organisation name: Help 2 Claim

Service: A team set up by Citizens Advice to help with claiming Universal Credit for the first time.

Phone: 0800 144 8444

Online: Web chat

Benefits calculators
Find how much you are entitled to at any of these websites.

TURN2US

entitledto

Policy in Practice

Housing possession, eviction, dangerous disrepair, homelessness applications, harassment by landlord
Organisation: Luton Law Centre

Website: lutonlawcentre.org.uk

Service: Free and confidential legal advice on housing issues

Phone: 01582 481 000 (Tue and Thu, 10.30am-12.30pm)

Appointments: These are arranged through Citizens Advice - call 0808 278 7847 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-3.30pm)

If you are homeless or about to be made homeless, contact Luton Borough Council Homeless Prevention Team on 01582 510371
Imigration issues and asylum claims
Organisation: Luton Law Centre

Website: lutonlawcentre.org.uk

Service: Free and confidential legal advice on immigration issues and asylum claims

Phone: 01582 481 000 (Tue 10am-4pm, Fri 10am-midday)

Appointments: These are arranged through Citizens Advice - call 0808 278 7847 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-3.30pm)

Family Law
Organisation: Owens Solicitors

Website: owensolicitors.com

Appointments: These are arranged through Citizens Advice - call 0808 278 7847 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-3.30pm)

Other legal matters
You will need to find a solicitor who deals with the right type of law. (Many solicitors offer an initial short advice session with no fee.)

Try a Google search, or you can contact our advisors for a list. Email advisors@lutonfoodbank.org.uk or call 07736 993223 or 07736 993225. (Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm)

Consumer advice - problems with buying goods or services
Organisation: Citizens Advice

Website: citizensadvice.org.uk

Phone: 0808 223 1133 ( Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)

Employment advice - workplace rights
Organisation: Acas

Service: Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) gives employees and employers free and impartial advice on workplace rights, rules, and best practice.

Website: acas.org.uk

Debt advice
These organisations can give real practical help managing debt. DO NOT HESITATE!
StepChange
A free, impartial, and confidential service tailored advice to your situation. 
  • Offers a debt-resolution service
  • Users complete a form detailing all their income and expenditure
  • StepChange uses this information to recommend an action plan
  • StepChange can contact companies you owe money to and negotiate manageable repayments
  • Manageable repayments are collected from you by StepChange, which disperses the money to all the companies concerned

Website: stepchange.org

National Debtline
A charity offering free and independent debt advice over the phone and online.

Website: nationaldebtline.org

Phone: 0808 808 4000

Online: Web chat (Mon-Friday 9am-8pm, Sat 9.30am-1pm)

The Salvation Army
Helps you get a handle on what you owe, and works with you to make a realistic plan for payment. Their free debt advice service can contact creditors on your behalf to explore and negotiate options like repayment holidays and more realistic repayment plans.

Website: salvationarmy.org.uk

Phone: 01582 343699

Email: lutondas@salvationarmy.org.uk

If debt is causing you problems, or if you think it's about to, ACT NOW before things get worse.
Domestic Abuse
The National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Service: Freephone confidential domestic abuse helpline.

Phone: 0808 2000 247

Website: nationaldahelpline.org.uk

Services for women
Women’s Aid website: womensaid.org.uk

Luton All Women’s Centre website: lutonallwomenscentre.org.uk

Stepping Stone Luton website: steppingstonesluton.co.uk

Silent Solution

The emergency procedure you should learn BEFORE you need it.
See details
General money advice
Organisation: The Money Advice Service
  • Set up and funded by the Government using taxes on financial services
  • Online tools, including mortgage calculators and a budget planner
  • Letter templates
  • Guidebooks an a range of money topics
  • Interactive timeline to help predict the financial impact of having a baby
  • Live chat

Website: moneyadviceservice.org.uk