The Difference We Make
Our customers call us a lifeline. Many say they don’t know how they would have fed their children, kept going, or got through their darkest days without FreeShop. We relieve the immediate crisis – the hunger, the fear, the sleepless nights. And then walk alongside people as they rebuild strength, confidence and their future.
Our Free Shop
When someone walks through our doors, they are often carrying more than empty shopping bags. They are carrying stress, fear and the constant pressure of trying to stretch not enough money across too many needs. By providing free food and essentials, we immediately reduce that pressure. Parents no longer have to skip meals so their children can eat. Families can pay essential bills without the same level of panic. The weekly shop becomes one less crisis to manage.
That breathing space is powerful. When people are no longer consumed by the question of how they will eat, they can begin to think clearly, sleep better and focus on resolving the deeper issues affecting their lives, like debt, employment, housing, health or relationships.
Our Free Shop Offer
Long term change happens when people are supported to rebuild their confidence, knowledge and belief in themselves.
Through our workshops, 1:1s, courses, Community Café and Learning Lab, people gain practical skills, like budgeting, cooking, form filling, job searching and digital access. But just as importantly, they gain confidence!
We see people who once felt overwhelmed begin to understand their finances. People who avoided phone calls start speaking to debt advisers. Parents who felt isolated begin forming friendships. Individuals struggling with anxiety take small but steady steps back into community life.
Our FreeShop Offer helps people move from crisis management to future planning. With the right support around them, they are able to make informed decisions, build resilience, and take steps out of financial hardship – not just for today, but for good.
Our Free Shop Community
Through our Community Café, seasonal events and family activities, we create moments of joy, connection and normality. Children experience Christmas magic. Families enjoy a summer fair. Neighbours sit together over a hot drink and feel part of something.
These experiences matter more than they might seem. They reduce loneliness, strengthen relationships and remind people they are not alone. At FreeShop, people are not defined by their hardship – they are parents, friends, neighbours and contributors to a community that values them.
Over time, that sense of belonging builds confidence, resilience and trust. It helps people feel seen. And feeling seen is often the first step towards believing that life can look different.
The journey of a customer, in their own words.
Click here to read more testimonials
For more detailed ‘behind the scenes’ information about the difference our charity makes, click here to read our 2024/2025 social impact report!