The Food Support Fund awarded a total of £2,700 to Concrete supported housing schemes, helping provide vital food and wellbeing support across our female services, Young Persons Services, young people living in the community, and disabled accessible accommodation.
More than 75 customers were directly supported through the funding. Hundreds of essential food and household items were purchased and distributed across our services, including emergency food parcels, pantry stock, freezer meals, toiletries, household essentials and wellbeing session supplies.
For customers facing homelessness, every pound mattered. Every meal mattered. Because hunger changes everything. It drains energy. Focus. Confidence. Hope. For people facing homelessness, or rebuilding their lives after it, the pressure of choosing between heating, travel or food is brutally real.
At Concrete, our mission is simple. Make homelessness history. That means more than providing a roof. It means making sure people feel safe, supported and able to move forward. The Food Supply Fund helped us do exactly that.
Helping our young people keep going
At our Young Persons Service, staff saw the reality many young people were facing. Long days at college. Tight budgets. Empty cupboards by the end of the week. So the team acted.
The funding provided by the Food Support Fund provided warm, easy meals that young people could rely on after exhausting days of studying and travelling. Ready meals. Frozen pizzas. Simple food that meant they could get home, eat and rest.
No stress. No going hungry. Staff also added small comforts. Hot chocolate. Treats. Things many of us take for granted. Because surviving isn’t enough. Young people deserve warmth. Normality. Care.
A pantry built on dignity
The second round of funding created a mini community pantry at our Young Person’s scheme. A lifeline when money runs out.
Food banks remain essential. But access is limited, and choices are often basic. The pantry gave young people another option. Food they would actually want to eat. Food without judgement.
It meant fewer young people going without. Fewer impossible choices. More stability.
Supporting women through crisis
At our female scheme, the funding helped create a fully stocked emergency pantry for female residents.
Shelves filled with food, toiletries, laundry products and household essentials. The basics every person should have access to.
For women facing financial hardship, sanctions or crisis, the pantry became critical support at the hardest moments.
Emergency food parcels were also provided when needed. Quickly. Quietly. With dignity intact.
More than food
The impact went beyond cupboards and shopping bags. Funding also supported wellbeing sessions where women came together for hot drinks, biscuits, and conversation.
Small moments matter. A safe space to sit down. To breathe. To offload the stress of the day. To feel less alone. That connection builds resilience, confidence, and community.
Making homelessness history
The Food Support Fund made a real difference across our services. It reduced food insecurity.
Eased anxiety. Improved wellbeing. Helped customers stay focused on education, recovery and independence.
Most importantly, it reminded people they matter. At Concrete, we believe nobody should face homelessness alone. And nobody should go hungry while trying to rebuild their life.
Find out more about our supported accommodation here: www.thisisconcrete.org.uk
