Hope Community Pantry is part of the Street Support West Midlands network, where local people and organisations work together to reduce hardship and strengthen neighbourhoods. Based in Highgate, one of Birmingham’s most diverse and economically challenged areas, the pantry began in 2023 as part of the Your Local Pantry network. It is a ministry of Churchcentral Trust, run by Hope Community Church.

The pantry was created to reduce food poverty and provide affordable groceries for residents on low incomes. It opens every Thursday at Central House, 13 Ravenhurst St, Highgate, Birmingham B12 0HD from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, supporting around 40 to 60 households each week, which is roughly 400 individuals. Alongside food, the team offers a Stay and Play group, a Warm Welcome Café, and help with benefit applications.

Street Support West Midlands recently got in touch with Somayeh Sani, Pantry Manager, to find out more about how Hope Community Pantry is supporting local residents in Highgate through affordable food, practical help, and a strong sense of community.

A Thursday at the Pantry

Volunteers arrive at 9am to begin setting up. The food area is stocked and labelled, while the Stay and Play group sets out toys and coffee for
parents and children. At 10:20, tickets are given out to manage the queue. The pantry opens at 10:30 and runs until half past twelve.
Throughout the morning, volunteers guide people through their shop and check that everyone is comfortable. After closing, the team cleans and tidies the space, ready for the following week.

“We always try to make sure everyone leaves happy and with a smile.”
– Somayeh Sani, Pantry Manager

 

Everyday Impact

One of the volunteers recalled a woman who came with her £5 in small coins, gathered that morning to do her weekly shop. Many members say that the pantry helps them manage part of their household costs, especially those with children or caring responsibilities.

The team has seen positive changes in confidence and wellbeing. Members often stay to chat and share how things are going. Volunteers also
describe the experience as important for their own mental health and sense of purpose.

“It’s the highlight of my week to be able to connect with other people and have a reason to get out of the house.”

The Team Behind It

Around seven to eight volunteers support each pantry session, with two others collecting supplies during the week. The pantry works with
partners such as FareShare, Neighbourly, and the Food Justice Network.

Volunteers receive training to help them offer friendly and respectful support. Somayeh’s role is to keep good communication within the team and with members, creating an environment that is warm, welcoming, and inclusive.

“The environment that God’s created is warm, friendly, and inclusive for everyone.”

Understanding Food Insecurity

The team at Hope Community Pantry want more people to understand that food insecurity is not limited to those who are unemployed. Many pantry members are in work but still struggle to afford healthy food.

One woman arrived early one Thursday so she could shop before leaving for her 1 p.m. shift. Encounters like this show how working people are also affected by rising costs.

“Many people believe that food pantries only help the unemployed, but we see every week that even people who work are struggling.“

Demand is growing. Each week brings new registrations, and at times the pantry runs short of essential items. More funding would help maintain a steady supply of fresh and healthy food for families.

Looking Ahead

The team hopes to continue supporting local residents during difficult times and to strengthen the pantry’s sustainability through secure funding and partnerships. Their commitment remains focused on dignity, inclusion, and community wellbeing.

“We’ve observed many changes in our customers’ behaviour, feeling, hope, and especially how happy and satisfied they are when they return.” – Somayeh

The work of Hope Community Pantry reflects the Positive Pathway approach supported by the West Midlands Combined Authority Homelessness Taskforce. By offering practical help with food, benefits, and social connection, the pantry supports people at an early stage of need. This kind of local, preventative action reduces the risk of crisis, strengthens community resilience, and helps residents move toward greater stability and wellbeing.

How to Support
Hope Community Pantry relies on local people and partners who give their time, resources, and care. The team welcomes support in several
ways. Those with time to spare can volunteer to help collect food donations using their own transport or assist during pantry sessions on Thursdays. Donations of non-perishable food and household supplies are always useful, especially tinned goods, rice, spaghetti, oil, and cleaning products. These help restock the shelves each week and ensure families have access to essential items.

Just get in touch via their online form to find out more.

Financial donations are also needed to keep the pantry sustainable. One-off gifts or regular direct debits make it possible to plan ahead and
respond when demand increases. Donations can be made by bank transfer which will be used to purchase groceries and cover overheads.

Account Name: ChurchCentral Trust
Account Number: 00020965
Sort Code: 405240
Reference: Pantry

Every act of support helps the pantry continue its mission of providing affordable food and practical help for people in Highgate and the wider Birmingham community.

Hope Community Pantry is one of many local projects across Birmingham showing how community action can make lasting change. Week by week, Somayeh and her team create a space where people feel welcome, supported, and connected. Their work sits at the heart of the Street Support West Midlands network, contributing to the Positive Pathway vision of prevention, inclusion, and shared responsibility for tackling hardship across the region.