Get food & advice - Luton Foodbank

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 advisors@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, click here.

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, click here.

Your school's family worker may be able to help. Your children may even qualify for free school meals. During the current Cornavirus crisis, children eligible for free school meals will benefit from a national voucher scheme allowing them to continue to access meals whilst they stay at home. Your children's school should contact you about this if you are eligible.

Otherwise, click here.

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 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-3.30pm). 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.

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