If you need urgent help finding food and essential items, or if you are struggling to cope with your current situation for whatever reason, you are advised to call our support helpline on: 0300 373 3730 (option 2)
To get help from a food bank you need to be referred with a voucher.
Your GP, housing association or Citizens Advice can assess you for a food voucher and provide signposting for help towards your crisis.
Contact Citizens Advice for more information.
Telephone: 0808 208 2138
Affordable food places and free meals
Affordable food places are free for anyone to use, you do not need a referral.
Here are a few places in the area that offer affordable meals:
- 108 Mealbank, Carlisle
- Aspatria Dreamscheme
- Carlisle Community Help
- Highfield Food Pantry
- Keswick Area Food Share (KAFS)
- Oasis Pantry
Free school meals and vouchers
Find out if your child or children can get free school meals and clothing vouchers.
Help to buy food, milk and vitamins
With the Healthy Start scheme you get a prepaid card which is reloaded with money every four weeks to spend on milk, plain fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, and infant formula milk. The card also entitles you to free vitamins.