A transformative community space and social supermarket where fresh food thrives, new connections flourish, and hope extends beyond the doors.
In Downham, INI Food and Wellbeing Centre is transforming lives. A community-driven initiative that addresses local food security, the Centre offers affordable groceries, vital skills, and a space for connection and resilience. This is more than just a place to buy food – it’s a space designed to empower the community and meet their specific needs.
Born and raised in Downham, Sistah Stellah, Rastafari Movement UK Wellbeing and Community Hub Lead, has seen her community change over the years.
People have faced increasing challenges in accessing healthy, nutritious food and local support. Her passion for helping others and vision for a stronger, more connected community has brought the Centre to life.
Sistah Stellah's journey began with relentless determination and collaboration. From building partnerships to leading renovations, her work has transformed the community space into a vibrant hub fostering resilience and connection.
What is the INI Food and Wellbeing Centre?
This vibrant community space is designed to tackle food insecurity and social isolation in Downham, and includes:
Social Supermarket: Affordable groceries tailored to dietary, cultural, and health needs.
Community Kitchen: Workshops teaching cooking and nutrition skills, empowering members to make healthier choices.
Mini Food Hub: Fresh produce distributed to other community-led projects.
Safe Social Spaces: A welcoming environment for events, workshops, and community-building activities.
“Having a place where people can socialise helps them reconnect. Instead of just picking up groceries, they can chat with someone, re-engage with the community, and learn about services and opportunities they may not have known before.”
Sistah Stellah, RMUK and Community Hub Lead
By combining practical support with a welcoming atmosphere, the Centre is helping residents overcome social isolation and find a sense of belonging. Every visit offers opportunities to connect with others, learn and build skills, and discover resources that empower members help build brighter futures.
Food Deserts: The Challenge Facing Downham and the UK
Downham is one of many areas in the UK that is considered as a food desert, where there’s poor access to affordable healthy foods. The community faces significant barriers in accessing essential services that support their dignity and improve quality of life, including:
Few local shops: Most don’t stock fresh fruits, vegetables, or culturally appropriate foods.
High costs: Healthy options are often unaffordable.
Long travel distances: Families rely on long bus journeys to reach supermarkets, which can be challenging and time-consuming.
“A food desert is an area with very few local shops that sell a wide range of foods, catering to people from diverse backgrounds. Downham is a place where the nearest large shops are a bus journey away.”
Sistah Stellah, RMUK and Community Hub Lead
People living in food deserts like Downham can often experience social isolation and financial challenges. Food insecurity is on the rise in communities in the UK, highlighting the urgent need for community-driven solutions like INI Food and Wellbeing Centre, that not only bring healthy options closer to home – but foster connection and resilience in local communities.
Supporting communities across the UK
Our work supporting INI Food and Wellbeing Centre is part of Action Against Hunger’s UK Healthy Pantries Programmes. We’ve developed our Healthy Pantries Programme to tackle the root causes of food insecurity and poor nutrition in vulnerable communities.
By addressing immediate needs while promoting long-term solutions, we’re helping grassroots pantries thrive and empowering families to lead healthier lives.
How we’re making an impact
Supplying nutritious food: Many food pantries in the UK struggle to meet demand. We’re funding culturally inclusive, nutritious food to ensure no one is left behind.
Enhancing nutrition: Through training and resources, our experts are making sure food donations are both abundant and nutritionally balanced.
Empowering communities: Cooking classes funded by our programmes teach community members how to prepare healthy, affordable meals, promoting long-term wellbeing and independence.
Our Healthy Pantries Programmes are committed to supporting vulnerable communities by addressing both immediate needs and building resilience for the future.
Our UK programmes partners
Across the UK, providing funding and resources to tackle food insecurity, support community resilience, and empower individuals. Partnerships with Wall’s Pastry and Tenderstem help make resources accessible to those who need them most, fostering lasting change in communities like Downham.
Wall's Pastry
We've teamed up with Wall’s Pastry tackle food poverty in UK. We're grateful for their support of our INI Food and Wellbeing Centre in Downham!
