SouthcotePantry

03/06/2026

Final NHS Health Checks at Southcote Pantry
Tuesday 16 June
2.30-5.00pm
Southcote Family Church, RG30 3BL

We would like to notify you that Tuesday 16 June will be the FINAL opportunity to receive a FREE NHS Health Check at the pantry.

These health checks are available not only to pantry members but also to your family, friends and neighbours, so please help us spread the word.

A simple health check can identify signs of health conditions that may otherwise go unnoticed, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and other concerns. In many cases, it can lead to referrals for further investigations or treatment before a condition becomes more serious.

Many people feel perfectly well and are surprised to discover an underlying health issue. Taking a few minutes for a check-up could make a significant difference to your health and wellbeing.

✅ Free of charge
✅ Quick and confidential
✅ Open to members, family, friends and neighbours

Please take advantage of this final session and encourage those around you to do the same. Your health is important, and this may be an opportunity that could genuinely make a difference.

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday 16 June.

18/05/2026

This year we are celebrating 30 years as a registered charity! 🎉
To mark this milestone, we’re running a big fundraising raffle — and we’d love your support.
🎟️ Tickets:
£1 per ticket or £5 per book
🎁 There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs, including:
• Big Church Festival tickets with camping.
• Marvellous Festival tickets.
• Cafe Yolk vouchers.
• LEGO bundles.
• Workshops at Reading Sewing Bee.
• Wellington Country Park vouchers.
• Champagne.
• Wine.
• Food Hamper.
• Toy Hampers.
• Pamper Hamper.
• Pottery painting vouchers
…and much more!
If you’d like to take part, simply email [email protected] with how many tickets you’d like. We’ll then email you a secure SumUp payment link. Once payment has been made, we’ll allocate your ticket numbers and confirm your entry into the draw.

📅 The draw will take place on 6th June, and all winners will be contacted afterwards.

Every penny raised helps us continue supporting people across Reading who are facing hardship.

Thank you so much for your continued support — it truly makes a difference, and we couldn’t do it without you. ❤️

18/05/2026

🩺 NHS Health Checks at the Pantry Tomorrow 🩺

We’re pleased to be hosting free NHS Health Checks tomorrow at Southcote Family Church from 3.00pm–5.15pm.

This service is open to all members of the Southcote community who would like to be seen by qualified NHS professionals for a free health check.

The check includes:
• Height & weight
• Blood pressure
• Heart rate
• Oxygen saturation levels
• Cholesterol testing
• Blood sugar testing

If anything significant is identified, you will be offered referral for further advice and follow-up support.

It’s a great opportunity to give yourself a simple “health MOT” and potentially identify any issues that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Our Parish Nurse will also be on site and available to chat about any other health concerns you may have.

📍 Southcote Family Church
🕒 Tomorrow, 3.00pm–5.15pm

Everyone in the Southcote community is welcome.

09/05/2026

As many of you know, Southcote Pantry is part of FAITH Christian Group who run ReadiFood Food Bank, ReadiStreet, A Bed for the Night and eight other Pantries across the town of Reading.
We're so excited to support the launch of Readicook, Faith's newest collaboration.

💜 Introducing ReadiCook 💜

We are so excited to launch ReadiCook — a brand new collaboration between Faith Christian Group and Torch Help Hub!

ReadiCook is all about bringing life, health, and hope to individuals and families within our Pantry network through practical food coaching sessions that combine:

✔️ Cookery skills
✔️ Nutrition understanding
✔️ Budget-friendly meal planning
✔️ Confidence in the kitchen

Through hands-on learning, we want to help people prepare affordable, healthy meals from scratch, reduce food costs, and make informed choices that support long-term wellbeing.

💜 At the heart of ReadiCook is our desire to see people flourish — practically, physically, and spiritually.

Our first six-week pilot course, Healthy Snacks and Packed Lunches, launched last month at Southcote Family Church.

More information will be shared soon.

Please help us spread the word by liking, sharing, and praying for this exciting new project!

05/05/2026

CommuniCare dates

Our CommuniCare advisor, Lynn, will be taking a well earned break on 12th and 19th May, so she will not be at Pantry to offer her usual friendly and expert advice.

We welcome Lynn back on 26th May.

04/05/2026

Just a friendly reminder.

Our pantry is open all year round – including during school holidays and bank holiday weeks.

We know these times can be especially challenging, so we’re here when you need us most.

The only time we close is for two weeks over Christmas and New Year.

If you need support, please don’t hesitate to come along.

01/05/2026

Struggling to make your money stretch each week? You’re not alone—and we’re here to help 💛

Our pantry offers support for anyone on benefits, low income, or just finding things a bit tight at the moment.

For just **£6 per shop**, you can choose a range of fresh and cupboard foods worth around **£25–£30**.
👉 Membership is completely **free**

But we’re more than just a pantry…

Alongside our pantry, **CommuniCare** is available to offer friendly, practical support with things like housing, debt, and benefits. We also have our **Parish Nurse** on site, who can provide advice and support on health and wellbeing.

📍 Held at Southcote Family Church
🗓 Every Tuesday
⏰ Doors open at 2:30pm for CommuniCare
☕ Café open from 3:00pm
🛒 Shopping starts at 3:30pm

Whether you need a little extra help or just want to come along and see what we do, you’ll always be welcome.

29/04/2026

If you’ve used our pantry before but haven’t been in for a while, we’d love to see you again. 💛

We’ve noticed some of our regular members haven’t been visiting recently. We understand circumstances change—some people move away, and others may have received an automated email saying their membership has “lapsed.”

We want to reassure you: **you are absolutely still welcome.**

There’s no need to reapply or fill out any new forms. Just come along as usual, and we’ll reinstate your membership on the spot—quick and simple, with no questions asked.

Please don’t stay away because you’re unsure or worried about coming back. If you need support, we’re here for you, just as we always have been.

Our doors are open, and you’ll always be welcome.

16/04/2026

Good morning everyone. Next Tuesday, 21 April, our NHS Health Team will be back at Pantry to carry out health checks. We've already seen some great results from this with people receiving care and advice they may not have previously received. We're keen to get as many people in the community seen whilst the service is available.
If you have not had a check yourself and would like to be considered, please do talk to the team, or Melanie, our Parish Nurse, when you arrive. Please also do encourage friends, family and neighbours to come along.
Doors will open at 2.30pm for CommuniCare clients and at 3.00pm for cafe and NHS checks, with Pantry shopping starting at 3.30pm.
We look forward to seeing you all.

09/04/2026

This year we are celebrating 30 years as a registered charity.
To mark this milestone, we’re running a big fundraising raffle – and we’d love your support!

🎟️ Tickets are:
£1 per ticket or £5 per book

🎁 There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs, including:
• Marvellous Festival tickets.
• Cafe vouchers.
• Food hampers
• Toy hampers
•Pottery painting
…and much more!

If you’d like to take part, you can:
Buy online by commenting below

If you comment, we’ll get in touch to ask how many tickets you’d like. We’ll then send you a secure SumUp payment link, via email and once payment is made, we’ll allocate your ticket numbers, notify you of your ticket numbers and enter you into the draw.

📅 The draw will take place on 6th June, and all winners will be contacted afterwards.

Every penny we raise helps us support people in Reading who are in need.
Thank you so much for your continued support – it really does make a difference and we couldn’t do it without you.