Help with food for families

Find support if you need help with food for your family. We have local food banks and you can join our food club. We can help with food vouchers for children on free school meals and for families experiencing difficult times, through the household fund.

Food support signposting in Rochdale

Do you need support with food in Rochdale borough?

Rochdale's Food Solution Network are working hard to ensure food security exists so all people, at all times, have physical and access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. 

In partnership with current food providers, Rochdale Council and Action Together have developed this signposting resource that will help groups, individuals and families get access to food in the borough.

For more information see food support on the action together website.

Free school meals - food vouchers

We'll continue to provide food vouchers to eligible families for all school holidays in 2023, the 2024 spring half-term and the 2024 Easter holidays.

The continuation of the voucher scheme will depend on whether we receive more government funding.

You don't need to apply. We'll send out vouchers for all children who are entitled.

See more information on Rochdale Council website.

Food clubs

Membership is £1 per year then you can get food to the value of £15 bag for £3.50 and buy other food items. Lots of families find this helpful with a good selection of items.

Newbold Food Club
Open: every Friday, 12.30pm to 2.30pm
Tel: 01706 649729
Address: Moss Street Youth Centre, Moss St, Rochdale OL16 5NL

Heywood Food Club
Open: every Friday, 9.30am to 11.30am
Tel: 01706 369889
Address: Derby Street Children's Centre, Derby Street, Heywood OL10 4QJ

Heybrook Food Club
Open: every Wednesday, 12pm to 2pm
Tel: 01706 378166
Address: Heybrook Children’s Centre, Park Road, Rochdale, OL12 9BJ

RBH Kirkholt
Open: every Thursday, 9.30am to 12pm
Tel: 07531 556697
Address: Community Hub, 17 The Strand, Rochdale OL11 2JG

RBH Freehold
Open: every Thursday, 10am to 12pm
Tel: 07532 556697
Address: Community Annex, opposite 271 Olney, Freehold OL11 4LQ

RBH Smallbridge
Open: every Thursday, 9.30am to 12pm
Tel: 07532 556697
Address: 5 Stevenson Square, Smallbridge, Rochdale OL12 9SA

The LightHouse Project - Your Local Pantry
Open: every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9.30am to 12.30pm
Tel: 0161 643 1163
Address: Unit S6b/c Middleton Shopping Centre, Limetrees Road, Middleton M24 4EL

KYP Community Pantry
Open: every Wednesday and Friday, 9.30am to 11.30pm
Tel: 01706 630140
Address: Enterprise Centre, Belfield Road, Rochdale OL16 2UP

Rochdale AFC - Dave vs Hunger Food Pantry
Open: Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm
Tel: 01706 643836
Address: Crown Oil Arena, Sandy Lane, Rochdale OL11 5DR

Auntie Irene's Pantry
Open: every Wednesday, 6pm to 7pm and every Sunday, 12pm to 2pm
Tel: 07870 172142
Address: St James Church, St James Street, Milnrow, Rochdale OL16 3JT

Food clubs at your local children's centre

It costs £1 to join a club for a year. You can then buy food bags which cost £3.50 but contain £15 of food and collect them from one of the following children's centres: 

Contact any children's centre to join the club.

Food banks

Here's a list of some of the foodbanks in Rochdale borough:

How do foodbanks work? 

You need a voucher to use a foodbank. You can get a voucher from your doctor, health visitor, social worker, local citizens advice or charity organisation. Your local foodbank can provide emergency food for at least 3 days. 

Household fund

The Household Fund is a sum of money to help Rochdale borough residents who find themselves struggling financially. This can include help with white goods, supermarket vouchers and fuel cards.

This is a referral service only so you will need to speak to your Family Support Worker or ring our helpline on 01706 923685.

Local advice

  1. Help with the cost of living

    We have support services and advice for families who are struggling financially or in hardship. There are many money saving schemes available to local residents.
  2. Employment and benefits support

    If you are affected by coronavirus or its effect on the economy, there is a wide range of support available. Please see below for information about the changes the government has brought in to support people who are already claiming benefits, need to claim benefits, or are…

Local services

  1. Free School Meals

    To apply for free school meals: You and your child must both live in the borough of Rochdale or the city of Manchester. If you're claiming from an address in the city of Manchester, your child must attend a school in the borough of Rochdale.…

Page last reviewed: 28/09/2023