Important information:
Our drop in café at Ness Bank Church, 1 Ness Bank, Inverness IV2 4SF is open:
Winter opening hours (November to April): Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between 10am and 3pm
A simple breakfast is available 10 am to 11.30 am, as well as a three-course lunch served from 1pm
Summer opening hours (May to October): Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays 12 noon to 3pm
Three-course lunch served from 1pm
Inverness Foodstuff, in partnership with Highlife Highland, also provide lunches at Hilton Community Centre, Hilton Village, Oldtown Road, Inverness IV2 4HT on:
Wednesdays and Fridays between 12 noon and 2pm
If you are struggling financially to buy food and would like to talk to someone please call us:
Telephone: 07552 303056
Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm
Saturday: 10am to 1pm
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Inverness Foodstuff is more than just a meal:
Our vision is to be a vibrant community, providing food, friendship and support to all who face significant challenges – including financial hardship and homelessness.
Our mission is to: support the homeless and tackle social isolation, challenge food poverty and combat food waste, reduce harm and enable people to improve their health and well-being.
Inverness Foodstuff was set up as a response to the unmet needs of those experiencing daily challenges, often linked to homelessness. We are a vibrant and connected community that helps people transform their physical mental, and social well being. Our services are centred at our welcoming café (based in the spacious Ness Bank Church hall) which, on three days a week, offers a freshly cooked vegetarian meal and companionship to our participants and acts as a hub where they can access a range of services. In 2023, we extended our services to Hilton Community Centre on a Wednesday and Friday each week.
The hub supports participants in developing new skills and increasing confidence – and we can guide individuals to other services and opportunities. Representatives from health, employability, and other agencies come along to help participants link into mainstream services. With the right support – and great nutrition and company – we believe that those who experience challenge feel more confident and valued – and can make positive, sustainable changes to their lives.
Welcome from our chair, Stuart Black
It is my privilege to have been serving as chair of Inverness Foodstuff since April 2022. Since its beginnings in 2014 Inverness Foodstuff has grown into a community in which all people are welcomed and accepted, where food and friendship is shared and enjoyed, where people are respected and listened to and where they can connect with the services they need through the partnerships that Inverness Foodstuff have established.
Please take a few minutes to browse through our website to learn more about what we do at Inverness Foodstuff and why we do it – maybe you will find that you too could become part of this hope filled, transformational community!
Thank you ❤️
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Well done
Fine dining today at our Christmas Lunch being served by our very dapper waiters!
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Very dapper Dave you all do a great job xx
We even had Santa being piped in!
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How fantastic, really well done to you all xxx
We had a wonderful Christmas Lunch at Ness Bank today. Lovely food, presents and lots of laughs.
We couldn't do this without our fantastic volunteers both today and throughout the year so a massive Thank You to them all.
9 CommentsComment on Facebook
What a wonderful day and a delicious meal on Wednesday. Thank you so much to you all for your hard work and kindness. Have a peaceful Christmas and may 2025 be healthy and happy for you all. Xx ❤️
Fantastic! Heard good things. Well done and Merry Christmas 🎄
Wonderful and Happy Christmas to you all ❤️
THANK YOU FOR SPREADING A LITTLE FESTIVE JOY!
Christmas is a happy time, however, it can be sad and lonely for many. But what always lifts our spirits at Inverness Foodstuff is the kindness and generosity of the many people and organisations who support us by making financial and other donations, not just at this time of year, but all year round.
We are incredibly grateful to the individuals and businesses who support us by making regular financial and other donations throughout the year. THANK YOU, your ongoing support enables us to continue providing much needed support for homeless and other vulnerable people.
Thanks also to the many individuals and organisations who help us spread a little joy at Christmas. Some of the many who have donated include David MacRae , Tubs, Sam, Rosemary and Harry and all those who donate to SECRET SANTA, the practical Christmas presents and toiletries donated for homeless persons and the contribution towards our two Christmas lunches is amazing, THANK YOU.
We were delighted again this year to accept Victoria from the Glen Mhor Hotel & Apartments very generous offer to provide 100 main courses for our Christmas Dinner at Ness Bank Church. Our grateful thanks to Victoria and Head Chef, Shaun and his team who will be preparing the meal, our participants can look forward to a sumptuous, tasty roast turkey with all the festive trimmings.
Thanks also to the lovely Cors from Salon on the Brae who provided toiletries and chocolates for our Christmas goodie bags; to the Royal National Infirmary Community Nurses (west side) for the donations of food; Tornagrain residents who gave us a financial donation from their carol singing; and Step'N'Style Dance School for the wonderful shoe boxes filled with practical and festive items, an ideal present for people who find themselves homeless.
As always, we are profoundly grateful to the congregations of Ness Bank Church of Scotland and Church of Scotland, Beauly who donated presents ensuring our participants and children have gifts to open on Christmas Day; thanks also to Mark from the Order of Malta who provided participants with warm winter clothing again this year.
To all the other individuals and businesses (there are too many to mention!) who donated either via PayPal, by cheque or cash or gave us food or presents, THANK YOU.
TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS, THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TO SPREAD A LITTLE FESTIVE JOY.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year.
Stuart Black, Chair of Inverness Foodstuff and us all at Inverness Foodstuff.
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Merry Christmas Stuart
You all do awesome things and help those that need it 👏 🥰
We are very grateful for these kind donations which will help those who use Inverness Foodstuff.
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The bags look super, just the job 😀⭐️
Brilliant well done all
We were delighted to host Christmas Lunch today at Hilton Community Centre, a lovely time was had by all! There was lots of good food, good people, friendship, laughter, festive cheer and a visit from Santa!
Many thanks to our wonderful volunteers for their help in preparing, cooking and serving today’s lunch. Special thanks to Wayne Ferguson, General Manager at Brakes, Seafield Road Inverness who donated the turkey, stuffing and pigs and blankets for our lunch, thanks Wayne they went down a treat!
Last but not least, many thanks to all our lovely guests, you make it all worthwhile!
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Looks like an amazing day superb effort 🥳
Are you open on Wednesday? I’ve applied to volunteer but not heard back and don’t know how to contact the right team
Wayne Ferguson
Todays lunch includes a Cranberry and Orange Sponge …finished with a Vanilla Cream with Fresh Strawberries 🍓
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A huge thank you to Highland Charity Jive for their donation of £500 to Inverness Foodstuff. This is so appreciated.
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Brilliant
🍨 Our lunch yesterday included a freshly baked Banoffee Sponge topped with Sticky Toffee Sauce and served with cream… 🍌 to finish.
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
Oh goodness that sounds and looks delicious 😋
Best everxx
Yummmmm
A huge thank you to 3 Scots Army welfare Team from Wimberley Way Eastate for their wonderful donations.
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Really generous contribution. So kind ⭐️
Well done thank you to all who help.
Absolutely fantastic 👏
We are closed today due to the churxh using the hall for their Xmas Fair
Back open on Tuesday 26th November
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Xmas? Surely Christmas .... 😉
We are thrilled that CALA have been providing play sessions at Inverness Foodstuff@Hilton on Fridays for pre-schoolers in the local area. They provide a variety of stimulating play activities from 1-2.30pm for the children attending the lunches, but Hilton families not participating in Inverness Foodstuff are welcome to bring along their pre-school aged children to the session.
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Brilliant. What a great idea
We will be closed on Saturday 23rd November due to the Church using the hall for their Christmas Fair.
Sorry for any inconvenience
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🎂 A huge Happy 80th Birthday to one of our lovely regulars Mo celebrating her special day with friends at the Hilton Community Cafe - best wishes from all the Inverness Foodstuff Team 🎂 🎉
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
WOW how special - Congratulations!
Happy birthday Maureen XX
Last night we celebrated our 10 Year Anniversary at the Town House with a civic reception that the Highland Council held for us.
Five of our original volunteers, who have been involved from the start, were given awards for their long service and outstanding contribution to Inverness Foodstuff over the last 10 years.
They are pictured with Fiona Smith - Chairperson of IF for first 8 years, Stuart Black - Chairperson of IF since 2022 and Jackie Hendry - Depute Provost.
8 CommentsComment on Facebook
Excellent to see Inverness Foodstuff’s great work being celebrated. It was a pleasure to meet some of the hardworking team at the Civic Reception. 👏👏👏
Congratulations all!
Well done 👏
Inverness Foodstuff is 10 years old today!
Ten years ago, a group of people from the church and community got together to discuss the problems about homelessness and food surplus, many meetings and discussions later, Inverness Foodstuff was established and registered as a charity on 10 November 2014.
We served our first meal on 10 February 2015. For the first seven months the food was prepared and cooked in Ness Bank Church kitchen, then transferred to the Mana House Café across the river! However, from 10 September 2015, meals were served in our drop-in café at Ness Bank Church Hall.
In our first three years, we averaged 174 lunches per month at Ness Bank Church. Today we provide an average of 825 three course lunches every month at Ness Bank Church, plus a further 470 lunches at Hilton Community Centre, supporting 500 plus homeless and other vulnerable persons every month.
Inverness Foodstuff has been incredibly fortunate to receive the support of many individuals and organisations who have made financial and other donations over the last decade. Without their support, and the support of our amazing volunteers who turn up week in, week out, giving their time and commitment, we would not have survived 10 years!
While it all starts with the food, Inverness Foodstuff has always been much more than just a meal! We are very grateful to the all the organisations who have attended at Inverness Foodstuff to offer their services and support to our participants.
To all the volunteers, individuals and organisations who have supported Inverness Foodstuff, in whatever form over the last decade, THANK YOU, WE COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU.
Stuart Black, Chair of Inverness Foodstuff
8 CommentsComment on Facebook
Fantastic work, sustained and developed through great dedication, skill and teamwork. Your work is a credit to Inverness, and your host venues are to be praised too 👏👏❤️
Congratulations to everyone involved - you are one of the best things about Inverness!! 🙂
Congratulations to all involved in Inverness Foodstuff well done 👏🥰
🧙 The creepy cauldron at Ness Bank today is full of goodness ….a 👻 BOO-tiful Beetroot and Apple soup to warm all the ghouls this Halloween 🎃
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Todays kitchen team rustled up for the Hilton lunch today:
Slow Roasted BBQ Pork on a Salt & Pepper Baguette Slice, Handmade Coleslaw, House Salad with a Crispy Cheese Potato Cake
followed by Pineapple Cake with a Mango Drizzle and Fresh Cream 🍽️ ☕️ 🍰 😋
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
It was so yummy 🥰
Wow!!
Our partnership with H.M.P inverness prison is helping create meals for our service usersHMP Inverness has been ‘feeding’ back to the community through donations of prison-grown produce to local charity, Inverness Foodstuff.
The prison has partnered up with the charity to support them in providing help, meals, and company for local people who face day to day challenges.
The first boxes of tomatoes, peas, potatoes and lettuces, grown by individuals in custody with the support of Regimes Officer Les Campbell, were delivered to the charity’s hub at the start of August.
Based at Ness Bank Church and Hilton Community Centre, Inverness Foodstuff provide meals, assistance and company for those in the community that face a variety of challenges, from food poverty to isolation and loneliness.
Their hub offers a range of services and support, including money and debt advice, clothing, haircuts, and digital inclusion services.
Weekly donations have been made throughout the summer, and plans are already underway to continue the partnership for next year’s harvest.
Scott Watson, Governor in Charge at HMP Inverness, said: “Staff at HMP Inverness take great pride in the work they do, particularly when they are extending the prison’s reach out into the community.
“Those in our care really appreciate the opportunity to give something back to the local area, and have enjoyed picking up a new skill with Les’s support.”
Chair of Inverness Foodstuff, Stuart Black said: “Inverness Foodstuff provide over 1200 lunches every month for approximately 500 people. We are delighted to be working with HMP Inverness in this initiative, being able to use fresh vegetables delivered straight from the prison garden to our kitchen has been a great addition to the food donations we receive.”
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
What a marvellous initiative!
Brilliant 👌
#ChallengePoverty
Inverness Foodstuff are funded through The Scottish Government #Volunteer Support Fund and the #SocialIsolationAndLonelinessFund.
The funds have helped meet the ongoing demand for food and other support. Over 1200 lunches every month for approximately 500 people, which they do with their 80 plus volunteers who collect, prepare, cook and serve the food.
Pam Urquhart, Operations Manager said “At Inverness Foodstuff we continue to see the ongoing impact the cost-living crisis is having on individuals and families as they struggle to afford essentials like food and heating. Over the last 8 months we have provided over 10,000 three-course lunches and we continue to see new faces every week.
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There is a draw every Saturday night!
Support Inverness Foodstuff on Highland Community Lottery
www.highlandcommunitylottery.co.uk
Inverness Foodstuff is offering you the chance to win big prizes and help raise much needed funds.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
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