The ®Hungry Cupboard is a dignity-first resource built on trust and compassion. Local premises request a cupboard, the community help fill it. Stocked with essentials and hope.
It’s not a food bank, but a community-powered response to an all year round need. Whether you’re a host site, donor, or volunteer, you’re part of the story.
Help us grow the network, one cupboard, one act of care, one life at a time.
The ®Hungry Cupboard began with a hands-on workshop where its name, mascot and main idea were created. Around a screen and a cluttered table, volunteers came together to share ideas, sketch designs, cut shapes and paint early versions of what the project could become. From the start, the focus was on creating a food hub that offered dignity, warmth and community care.
During the session, ideas quickly moved from digital designs to physical prototypes. Volunteers built and tested models of a friendly cube character, modular cardboard scenes and simple tools that could help bring the concept to life. The energy in the room reflected creativity, teamwork and a shared belief that small ideas can grow into something meaningful.
This workshop marked the first step in the ®Hungry Cupboard journey. It showed how a simple idea, powered by collaboration and hands-on effort, could turn into a real and workable plan. From this starting point, the project has continued to grow, leading to Hungry Cupboards now appearing in schools, workplaces and community spaces.
This moment marked the ®Hungry Cupboard’s first step into the wider world. A school visit where Matt and Daniel introduced the concept to pupils and staff. They explained with warmth and clarity how the cupboard came to be, why it matters and how it empowers communities through dignity-first food support.
The presentation was simple but powerful. A mascot, a decorated ®Hungry Cupboard and a message that invited young people to take part. Children gathered with curiosity and pride, listening, asking questions and posing with the cupboard and a friendly mascot.
This wasn’t just a talk, it was a significant embrace. The ®Hungry Cupboard became something schools could own, adapt and champion. From this first visit, the idea began to grow in that every school, business, youth group and place of worship could host a ®Hungry Cupboard and help build a movement of care across the nation.
At this awards ceremony, the ®Hungry Cupboard received its first public recognition. A powerful moment where Matt, a lead Pioneer volunteer at SVP Southend, was honoured for his role in shaping the idea and bringing it to life. Surrounded by community champions, including the Southend Mayor and MP Anna Firth, the event highlighted the cupboard’s potential to address food insecurity with dignity and creativity.
Newspaper clippings and photos show the campaign gaining traction. From school corridors to civic halls, the message was clear. This was a community-led solution with national relevance and pride. The award wasn’t just for innovation - it was for impact, collaboration and the belief that young people and volunteers could build something scalable and symbolic.
This moment helped unlock new partnerships and inspired others to ask: “Could we host a ®Hungry Cupboard too?”
This photo captures the joy and pride of the ®Hungry Cupboard’s first official launch - a moment where volunteers, staff, supporters and guests came together to mark the beginning of something meaningful. Smiles, handshakes and shared stories filled the space as the cupboard stood proudly on display, surrounded by those who helped bring it to life. From youth contributors to seasoned volunteers, everyone played a part in shaping a project rooted in dignity, creativity and care.
The atmosphere was one of hope and possibility: a belief that this wasn’t just a one-off success, but the start of a movement. With 3D printers humming in the background and donation tins filling up, the launch became a symbol of what’s possible when community, compassion and practical action meet. The ®Hungry Cupboard was no longer just an idea. It was real and ready to grow.
This photo marks a defining moment in the ®Hungry Cupboard’s journey; the day its name and symbol became officially recognised and protected across the UK. Matt, a lead Pioneer volunteer and driving force behind the project, proudly holds the UK trademark certificate, affirming the cupboard’s identity as a national movement. Behind him, the workshop hums with 3D printers and volunteer made cupboards, reminding us that this isn’t just a brand - it’s a living, growing initiative powered by people in our local community.
Securing the trademark means the ®Hungry Cupboard can expand with confidence, inviting schools, businesses, youth groups and places of worship to host their own cupboards under a shared banner. It’s a milestone that protects the heart of the project while opening doors to wider collaboration, ensuring that every cupboard carries the same message: choice, care, and compassion.
This photo celebrates creativity, community and youth-led design. As part of the ®Hungry Cupboard rollout, an art competition was held across several local schools, inviting pupils to imagine what a ‘dignity-first’ food hub could look like. The response was inspiring, colourful, thoughtful and deeply symbolic.
Two winning designs were selected from Darlinghurst School and Chalkwell Hall School, each transforming a cupboard into a message of hope and solidarity. The prize-giving was a proud moment, with MP Anna Firth and Vlada, a local Ukrainian artist, presenting awards and celebrating the students’ contributions.
Their artwork now lives on as part of the Hungry Cupboard’s visual identity, reminding everyone that young voices shape the future of community care. This milestone proved that the cupboard isn’t just a service - it’s a canvas for connection and a movement powered by imagination.
St Vincent’s Centre, Southend celebrates the growing impact of this initiative, featuring in the Evening Echo news. With donation points placed in schools, businesses and community centres, the scheme has supported over 800 families in the past year. The article highlights the generosity of local residents, the dignity-first approach of volunteers and the transformative stories of individuals like Jenny, who found confidence and community through the project.
As manager Daniel Cauchi puts it, “Hope doesn’t come in seasons – it comes from community.”
If you’d like a ®Hungry Cupboard in your school, workplace, or community space, we’d love to hear from you. It’s a simple way to make a lasting difference - and every cupboard becomes a quiet promise that no one has to face hunger alone. Get in touch with the team at St Vincent’s Centre, Southend to find out how to get started.
Contact:
01702 592980
Daniel Cauchi: Danielmc@svp.org.uk
Nesper Maregedze: Nesperm@svp.org.uk
