Abbey People

What to expect

Abbey People has been working alongside residents since 2013 to build a stronger, more connected community. They are focused on helping people move from just getting by to genuinely thriving - personally, socially, and economically. Guided by local voices and partnerships, they believe lasting change happens when communities lead the way. They run a range of regular help and support sessions for the local community.

The Food Hub, Barnwell Basket, runs on Mondays 1 - 2.30pm, Wednesdays 3.30 - 5.30pm and Saturdays 11am-12pm at East Barnwell Community Centre. It’s open to everyone in the community, no referral or vouchers are needed – you can just show up with a shopping bag.

There are two sections to Barnwell Basket:

1. The Surplus Area (fruit and veg, bakery and freezer): Free to use. Donated food close to/past its best before date. All are welcome, if food affordability is not an issue for you, they would appreciate you coming later in a session.
2. The Pantry (store cupboard essentials, toiletries and a fridge): an area where you can buy items by the basket and individually priced items such as eggs, milk and cheese. Prices are cheaper than in the supermarket and there’s an optional free membership, which means you may pay more or less for your shop depending on your situation. The friendly team can explain in more detail when you first visit.

Drop-ins are held on Tuesdays 2-4pm & Thursdays 10-12pm at The Hub on Barnwell Road. Anyone is welcome to attend Drop-in (no booking necessary) and use the Wi-Fi or printer. Staff will also be on-hand to help you with completing simple forms, general admin support and can refer you to relevant partner organisations who can provide support for any issues you may be facing.

Community Coffee Morning is held every Friday morning 10am-12pm at The Hub on Barnwell Road. Coffee Morning is a friendly and welcoming space for everyone to enjoy chatting, meeting new people, and sharing a relaxed morning together. Some weeks are kept simple with conversation, other times the team add fun activities like games, quizzes, or creative hobbies.

Frazzled Fridays is a weekly drop-in for parents and carers. Every Friday in term time, 9am-11am at the Hub on Barnwell Road. It is an informal safe space to talk and connect with others. You can also speak one-to-one with a professional who will be able to offer support with any issues you are experiencing in your family.

Abbey People also run a range of activities for young people and families.  During term-time they run youth clubs for juniors and seniors at East Barnwell Community Centre. They also run a Girls' Group for girls aged 12-16 at the The Hub on Barnwell Road. All of these groups are free to attend. For details and timings, visit the Abbey People website.

Abbey People's Coder Dojo is an opportunity for young people aged 7-17 to do coding projects with Scratch, Python, Lego Mindstorms and more, and they also have a 3D printer. Young people don’t need to have any coding experience, and can work at their own pace on their own projects. Sessions are held on the third Monday of each month during term time. It's free to attend. More information and sign up on the CoderDojo website.

There are opportunities to volunteer with Abbey People helping with the running of their community projects, or with conservation work they run in the local community. Visit this page to find out more about current volunteering opportunities.

The support provided by Abbey People is free of charge.