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!
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
We had a winner last night!
Highland Community Lottery results are in!
Remember to check your email to see if you've won!
If you haven't signed up yet visit our page - www.highlandcommunitylottery.co.uk/support/inverness-foodstuff
Thank you for your support
www.highlandcommunitylottery.co.uk
Highland Community Lottery - a fun and easy way to support good causes in Highland!0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Article covering our 1st Anniversary celebrations at Hilton
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Wonderful work 👏
Phenomenal
🙌🏻
Click the link below to hear the Be My Guest programme from Highland Hospital Radio about Inverness Foodstuff ❤️
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We are delighted to be featured on Highland Hospital Radio this Thursday and Saturday at 6pm.
To hear the programme google Inverness Hospital Radio and follow the link ( or ask Alexa!) The programme will be available on the listen again feature soon.
Hope you all listen in!
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Draws are every Saturday night. You can get tickets for 1 week or monthly!
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
On Saturday 7th September, Inverness Leisure will be hosting a free open day between 10am – 5pm. There are a variety of activities available throughout the day for both the gym and swimming pool.
See below for information.
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We are looking forward to attending Emma Roddick MSP’s Cost of Living Event next week on the 28th of August, taking place at the Spectrum Centre from 13:00-16:00.
The event is a chance for people across Inverness to drop-in and speak to us and other organisations in attendance about the work that we do and the support we can offer.
Any questions about the event, please email emma.roddick.msp@parliament.scot or call her office on 01463 563036.
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Many thanks to H.M.P inverness prison for their generous donation of fresh produce from the allotment at Porterfield , helping us to make wholesome nutritious soup and main courses.
6 CommentsComment on Facebook
Fantastic how lovely off them to donate it to a deserving charity x
Is that the Church
Is that just a man prison or both male?And female prison in different places
Another fantastic donation from Sainsbury's, Nairn thanks to Joanne for coming in and dropping it off 😀
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
My pleasure, thank you for the delicious bowl of soup!
Such thoughtfulness
There was 7 winners last night in the Highland Community Lottery!
A winning ticket is potentially a week away, we thank you for your continued support.
If you haven't signed up yet visit our page -
www.highlandcommunitylottery.co.uk
Highland Community Lottery - a fun and easy way to support good causes in Highland!0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Highland Community Lottery
www.highlandcommunitylottery.co.uk
Highland Community Lottery - a fun and easy way to support good causes in Highland!0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Have you got your tickets for Saturday's draw?
There were 6 winners in last Saturday's draw!
www.highlandcommunitylottery.co.uk
Highland Community Lottery - a fun and easy way to support good causes in Highland!0 CommentsComment on Facebook
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