Waltham Abbey Community Centre

The 3Food4U Community Centre at 47 Highbridge Street Waltham Abbey EN9 1BD is available to frontline agencies, charities, and community groups for FREE to deliver health, wellbeing and educational activities/sessions for free or subsidised to the public. It has a large open space with folding tables/chairs for 50 people, small kitchen and disabled access toilet.

What's On

New Epping Hub

New 3Food4U Community Hub at Bower Hill, Epping, CM16 7BN

New Epping Hub provides Charity Shop, Community Supermarket, Health and Wellbeing Support as well as a Surplus Hub on Fridays (1-2pm)

What's On

Our community surplus hubs offering free food, home essentials and clothes for anyone in need without an assessment or referral

We’re very pleased to announce the launch of 3SocialMemoryCafe4U a new FREE monthly community service open to anyone who would like to socialise.

We’re offering FREE NHS Health Checks, Blood Pressure and BMI checks to people who aren’t eligible for an NHS Health Check.

We support people in the community and at work with a range of health, wellbeing and day-to-day needs.

Job Club. We can support with: CVs, Application Forms, Interview Preparation, Basic Computer Skills and more.

FREE online training courses to build confidence and ability to work with numbers in everyday practical situations.

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Over 2000 families
(4500 individuals)
supported per week


279,000 meals provided in 2023


18,910 people fed in 2023


2,350 tonnes of surplus food saved in 2023


56% increase
on the previous year

Treating people humanely with dignity and respect

Donate Now

iNews National press - read the article

Read about Michelle's experience

See what happened when Heart/LBC Radio came to see us!

Our community surplus hubs offering free food, home essentials and clothes for anyone in need without an assessment or referral

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3Food4U

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Multi-award winning charity
providing free food, home essentials and clothing to anyone in need, without the requirement for assessment or referral. Committed to treating everyone with dignity & respect.
To donate
https://localgiving.org/charity/3food4u

3Food4U

1 hour ago

💚 OUR EPPING COMMUNITY CENTRE IS MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE 💚Just a few months after opening, our new 3Food4U Epping Community Hub has become a vital lifeline for local people.Every Friday, nearly 50 families now access our FREE Surplus Food Hub, helping put food on the table during increasingly challenging times. No referrals, no assessments, no judgement – just support when it's needed most.But that's only part of the story.Hundreds of local residents are also visiting our Community Supermarket and Charity Shop every week, where they can purchase affordable food, clothing, household items, toys, books and everyday essentials at a fraction of high street prices.Our Hub is about much more than food. It's a place where people can connect, build friendships and improve their wellbeing. We are continuing to expand our programme of health and wellbeing activities, creating opportunities for people of all ages to stay active, learn new skills and combat loneliness.By redistributing surplus food and donated goods, we're not only supporting local families but also preventing tonnes of perfectly good items from ending up in landfill – helping both people and the planet.A huge thank you to our incredible volunteers, supporters, donors and community partners who have helped make this possible. Together, we're creating something special for Epping and the wider district.📍 3Food4U Epping Community Centre Bower Hill Industrial Estate, Bower Hill, Epping CM16 7BN🕘 Open Monday-Saturday, 9am-4pm 🍎 Free Surplus Food Hub every Friday, 12.30pm-1.30pm 🛍 Charity Shop & Community Supermarket 🤝 Volunteers always welcome💚 HOW YOU CAN HELP 💚✅ Visit our Charity Shop and Community Supermarket ✅ Donate quality clothing, household items and food ✅ Volunteer a few hours a week ✅ Tell friends, family and neighbours about our services ✅ Partner with us if you're a local business ✅ Every donation, every volunteer hour, every share and every purchase helps us support more local families and keep our doors open for those who need us most.Please like, comment and share this post to help us reach more people. Together, we can ensure nobody in our community has to face hardship alone.Epping Forest District Council Epping for Everyone Everything Epping Forest Epping Town FC Kinder Essex Epping Epping at the Movies Epping Forest Guardian Waltham Abbey Town Council Honey Lane Care Home Loughton Residents Group Anything Ongar Active Essex High Sheriff of Essex Keep It Local Loughton Debden Chigwell Theydon Bois Abridge Buckhurst Hill Loughton Town Council Claire Evans CHESS Homeless Essex Police - Epping Forest District Essex Community Foundation Essex County Council Essex ActivAte West Essex Wellbeing Kinder Essex Harlow #3Food4U #Epping #CommunityHub #CommunitySupport #FoodSupport #VolunteersNeeded #CharityShop #CommunitySupermarket #StrongerTogether ...

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3Food4U

1 hour ago

We were proud recipients of this most prestigious national award for voluntary groups in 2024, thanks to our extraordinary volunteers and community support 🙏🏾 ...

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3Food4U

4 days ago

🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ COULD 2027 BE YOUR LONDON MARATHON? 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️We’re absolutely thrilled to see 3Food4U featured in this week’s press, celebrating our amazing London Marathon runners and the incredible challenge they took on to raise funds for our charity. 💚And now… 2027 is calling! 🎉We have 20 places available for the 2027 London Marathon and 12 have already been reserved — so there are just 8 places left!Whether you’re an experienced runner or looking for a life-changing challenge, this could be your chance to take on the London Marathon while supporting local families and communities through 3Food4U. 🙌💚 Run for 3Food4U. Run for your community. Run for something that matters.📩 To find out more or reserve your place:[email protected]📱 WhatsApp: 07473 169490Thank you to everyone who has supported our runners — and to our amazing marathon team for making us so proud! 🏅💚#3Food4U #LondonMarathon2027 #Team3Food4U #RunForCharity #LondonMarathon #Epping Forest District CouncilEpping Forest GuardianWaltham Abbey Town CouncilEpping for EveryoneLoughton Residents GroupAnything OngarKeep It Local Loughton Debden Chigwell Theydon Bois Abridge Buckhurst Hill ...

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3Food4U

1 week ago

Running as you get older isn’t about trying to be as fast as you were at 25. It’s about staying strong, moving well, and continuing to enjoy the sport for decades to come. The best runners don’t stop because they age—they adapt, adjust, and keep going. And so can you.Incredibly we've been allocated 20 London Marathon places for 2027. If you have ever wanted to run the best Marathon in the world or know anyone who would like to, contact us asap. 8 places have already been reserved, the rest will be go very quickly. There will be a minimum fundraising target of £3k which will all be used to deliver our vital services. We're happy to have a chat about the commitments involved.Contact us onWhatsApp 07973 166940 Email [email protected] ...

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3Food4U

1 week ago

📰 3Food4U in this week’s local press! 💚A lovely piece highlighting MP Alex Burghart’s recent surprise visit to our Ongar hub and the amazing work of our volunteers.Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do, helping us support local families and individuals across our communities.Thank you to everyone who continues to support 3Food4U! 💚#3Food4U #Community #Volunteers #Ongar #EssexEpping Forest District CouncilEpping Forest GuardianWaltham Abbey Town CouncilAnything Ongar ...

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Please Donate

Our Hub Locations

Waltham Abbey

Monday & Friday
11:00am to 12:30pm

13 Sun Street, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1ER

Loughton

Tuesday
11:00am to 12:30pm

Loughton Club, 8 Station Road, IG10 4NX

Tottenham SDA

Tuesday 12:30pm to 2:00pm

Saturday 3:30pm to 5:00pm

255 W Green Rd, London N15 5EG

Chigwell Row

Wednesday
4:45pm to 6:15pm

All Saints Church Hall, Romford Road, Chigwell Row, IG7 4QD

Epping Hub

Friday
1:00pm to 2:00pm

3Food4U Community Centre, Bower Hill, Epping, CM16 7BN

Chipping Ongar

Thursday
1:00pm to 2:00pm

Budworth Hall, 205 High Road,
Chipping Ongar. CM5 9JG

Bruce Grove

Sunday
12:00pm to 2:00pm

RCCG

454A High Road Bruce Grove, London N17 9JD

3Social&WarmPlaces4U

1st Monday of the month

3:30pm to 5:30pm

All Saints Church Hall
Romford Rd, Chigwell Row, Chigwell IG7 4QD

3rd Wednesday of the month

10:00am to 12:00pm

St James’ Church Hall, Ongar CM5 9EL

2nd Thursday of the month
2:00pm to 4:00pm

Loughton Club, 8 Station Road IG10 4NX

Last Fri of the month

2:30pm to 4:30pm

Waltham Abbey Baptist Church, Paradise Road, EN9 1RL

Free NHS Health Check

1st Tuesday of the month

10-2pm Loughton Hub

1st Thursday of the month

11-3pm Ongar Hub

2nd Mon & Fri of the month

10-1pm Waltham Abbey Hub

Job Club

Every Tuesday

11-12:30pm Loughton Hub

How You Can Help

Donate food

We are always looking for non-perishable food donations

Volunteer

3food4u is run entirely by volunteers. Can you join our team?

Fundraising

To donate visit our fundraising page
DONATE

SHARE

If you know someone in need, or know someone who can help, please share us

About us

Run entirely by volunteers we are charity community hub that provides basic groceries and essentials to those in need. Treating people humanely with dignity and respect without the need for assessment or referral.

Phone

07973 166940

Whatsapp

07973 166940

Charity No.

1192310

EMail

[email protected]

Make A Real Change In Someone’s Life

Donate, Volunteer, Spread the word. Join us on this incredible journey to treat people humanely with the dignity and respect that everyone deserves.

"Thank you again for the help it was really great."

Ms M

"Really friendly welcoming staff. Very helpful, great with kids. Fantastic options even at the end of the day. No judgement."

Mrs K

"First time I've done this...bit apprehensive. Thought it was made painless by friendly attitude of staff."

Mr J

"This place is amazing, best emergency food support I've visited.'"

Ms L

"Fantastic resource set up locally in Waltham Abbey - food to all without question ! amazing job x"

Tracey

"Well done on all your hard work and we are pleased we could support you."

Essex Community Foundation

"You guys are all amazing at 3food4u, so welcoming and kind."

R.J.N.

"Thank you all for your kind work that you do God bless you all "

V.T.

"Incredible facility you provide"

M.S.

"You all do an amazing job"

M.D.

"Always love visiting with my son and daughter! The people are so welcoming , and the guy who I spoke to today was really funny!"

J.R.

"We are please that Loughton Town Council has been able to support your project "

Loughton Town Council

"...the fact u never feel shamed or embarrassed to attend and always welcome no matter who u are is a nice feeling"

K.D.

Please Donate

We received this message at 23.24pm on Wed 7th April from Michelle, which we replied immediately.

Michelle: Hi we are on benefits & we have a autistic adult son, we are finding it really hard at the moment, I was wondering if we are able to get help with food & clothes.

3food4u: Hello Michelle, I’m so sorry to hear about your situation. You are very welcome to come to any one of our hubs, you don’t need any ID or proof, and take whatever you need. It’s all very easy just like going shopping. Come early as there are queues.

Michelle: I’ve got to take my mum for her covid injection today, so was hoping to go to you tomorrow, I’m very nervous. But I saw on Facebook how lovely & friendly the people are & the people make you very welcome x

Michelle visited us on Friday, this is her experience after.

“I’ve used food banks before but never felt comfortable but when I went to your food bank everyone was so friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend you to anyone who’s struggling right now. What made it more special was the personal touch and none of the volunteers were judgemental as it seems to be from other food banks. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with everyone at the Waltham Abbey branch so I’d just like to say thank you to everyone involved.”

Michelle