Kingsgate Student Pantry

KingsGate Student Pantry is a new initiative. It is a not-for-profit social supermarket, set up to help address food insecurity among students at Kingston University. National research as well as student survey data from the university demonstrate a need to support students, many of whom are affected by the cost-of-living pressures. The Pantry will operate once a week and will be run by volunteers from the university and the community. For a small payment at each visit (£5), students will receive approximately £20-£25 worth of goods, from a range of food and non-food items such as household and personal hygiene items. Items will be sourced from surplus and donated, supplemented by the payments when additional items are needed. In addition to accessing goods, students will be offered hot drinks and company in a safe, warm and welcoming space, and can be signposted to support services (community and/or university) as needed. To help support skills development, they can watch cookery demonstrations most weeks and access the healthy, low-cost recipes to replicate at home. They can also sign up to free Sunday lunch cooked at KingsGate Church if they wish. Our vision is to offer non-judgmental, welcoming and practical support to students.