For the Christmas and New Year period, some services are changing, including food banks and food aid. In this guide, we have useful information on what support is available during this time of year in Leeds, including community Christmas dinners.

Food banks in Leeds

Here is a list of links to food banks in Leeds and when they are open during Christmas:

  • Leeds North and West Foodbank
    • Monday 23rd December – Woodhouse foodbank open as normal. Wortley & Farnley foodbank closed.
    • Tuesday 24th December – Bramley foodbank and Burley foodbank open as normal. Final deliveries to West Leeds sent out first thing (9am)
    • Wednesday 25th December to 1st January – office closed and no foodbank sessions.
    • Thursday 2nd January – Armley foodbank and Ireland Wood foodbank open
  • Leeds South and East Foodbank
    • Receiving food parcels by referral – call 0808 208 2138 to self-refer
      • 23rd Dec St Cyprians Church 10.30am – 12.30pm and St Andrews Church, Beeston 11am-1pm
      • 24th Dec Church of Epiphany 10am- 12noon
      • 27th Dec Belle Isle 1.30pm-3.30 pm
      • 30th Dec St Cyprians 10.30am-12.30pm and St Andrews Church 11am-1pm
      • 31st Dec Church of Epiphany 10am-12noon
    • Holbeck Foodbank
      • Referrals can be made by email to [email protected]
      • Available on weekdays, except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day
    • Wetherby Foodbank
      • Food parcels available via referral – contact 0784 045 5725
      • Closed on Friday 27th December and 4th January
    • Otley Foodbank
      • Food parcels available via referral – email [email protected] or call 07464 974 993 or 07826 155 231
      • Closed 25th and 26th December and 1st January. They are operating a reduced availability from 21st December to 2nd January
    • Right Choices Foodbank – Heart Centre, Headingley LS6 3HN
      • Food parcels available on a drop-in model, but referrals can be made too
      • Closed between Monday 23rd December and Monday 6th January
      • Call 07505 865 317 or email [email protected]
    • Rainbow Junktion at All Hallows’ Church
      • Operating until Christmas Day, when they are running a community Christmas dinner
      • All Hallows Community Project, 24 Regent Terrace, Leeds LS6 1NP
    • Soup and More
      • Foodbank will be open: 27th December and 3rd January 2-4pm
      • Emergency Food Parcels available: Saturdays 21st, 28th December and 4th January 1-2pm
      • Contact: [email protected]
    • St Aidan’s Church, Harehills
      • Food parcels available at drop-ins
      • Open on Saturday 21st December and Saturday 4th January
      • Roundhay Road, Leeds LS8 5QD
    • St Vincent’s
      • Food parcels available via referral – call 0113 248 4126 to do so
      • Closed until from 24th – 30th and 31st December with phone referrals between 10am and 2pm. Business as usual from 2nd January
      • 4 Berking Avenue, Leeds LS9 9LF
    • Give A Gift / Cultural Food Hub
      • Providing Cultural food parcels up until Monday 23rd December
      • Contact: Email [email protected] or call 0113 380 5676

Food aid and cheap food

Some supermarkets are selling cheap vegetables in the run-up to Christmas. They include Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Lidl and Aldi.

There are pantries offering discounted food for a small charge. The Leeds Food Aid Network website has information on them here: https://leedsfoodaidnetwork.co.uk/parish-pantries/

If you need to find emergency food, there is also an interactive map of places to find it here: https://leedsfoodaidnetwork.co.uk/find-emergency-food/

The Money Information Centre also has useful links to services and support for anyone in need of emergency food: https://moneyinformationcentre.leeds.gov.uk/emergency-food

Community Christmas dinners

Rainbow Junktion at All Hallows’ Church is running a community Christmas dinner on Christmas Day. It is from 12 Noon and free to attend. The address is All Hallows’ Church, 24 Regent Terrace, Leeds LS6 1NP. Everyone is welcome!

St George’s Crypt are providing a Christmas meal for homeless people from 11:30am-12:45pm including drinks. Their address is Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3BR. They are also providing hot meals on Boxing Day from 12 Noon-12:45pm.

UCKG are running a dinner at their premises on Christmas Day from 12 Noon-2pm. Their address is 12 Regent Street, Leeds LS2 7QA.

Helping Hands UK are providing Christmas food for homeless people at the Pret a Manger in Leeds Train Station from 1pm-5pm.

From 6pm-7pm near Leeds Bus Station, Hidden Homeless are providing Christmas food for homeless people in the city centre.