The Gamlingay Food Project is a partnership between Gamlingay’s two churches – Gamlingay Baptist Church and St Mary’s.

It is run by volunteers from both churches and the wider community – and now it has its own receipt book (pictured): more about it below.

The Food Project

Click here for things to donate and opening times.

The Food Project is based in the Alms Houses’ former chapel in Church Street, opposite the pharmacy – it has two strands: the Need Project Hub and the Community Fridge:

The Need Project Hub takes donations from across the community of non-perishable items and provides parcels for those in need as they are referred to the Project.

The Hatley Leave a tin on your drive initiative is a regular contributor – for which the Project is very thankful.

Referrals will come from local partners, schools, children services and social services etc. Parcels are made up on site and delivered to the homes of those referred, as often as once a week and for as long as may be needed.

It works in close partnership with The Need Project in Stotfold and currently supports upwards of 30 households on a weekly basis.

The Community Fridge has a simple aim, to reduce food waste. We do this by taking food that would otherwise be thrown out and wasted from the local Co-Op, M&S in St Neots, Nisa in Potton and few other shops, and give it away free, to anyone, from the Community Fridge (and freezer). We originally set up in partnership with with Cambridge Sustainable Food and Zero Carbon communities to reduce food waste and carbon footprints.

Things to donate

The principle requirement is for food items, such as…

• Cereals
• Tins of…
• • Baked beans
  • Cold meats
  • Custard or rice pudding
  • Fruit
  • Pasta
  • Pasta sauce
  • Tuna
  • Veg – potatoes, carrots, sweetcorn, peas

As well as things like…

• Tea
• Coffee
• Squash
• UHT milk
• …and any other non-perishable items, such as toothpaste, tissues and toilet rolls.

When open and where to

The Need Project Hub always welcomes donations, which can be dropped off at the Alms House Chapel when the Food Project is open…

• Monday 2.30 to 4.30 pm
• Tuesday to Friday 10.00 am to 12.00 noon
• Saturday from 9.30 am until the Community Fridge is emptied.

Recipe book

Gamlingay has a new book: the Community Cookbook, published on 5th June 2026 as ‘a celebration of people, generosity and the simple, but powerful act, of sharing food’.

It was developed by Rev Adrian Semerene, Lead Pastor Gamlingay Baptist Church, and Amanda Semerene, his wife, in partnership with Jenny Jeffries, the Little Gransden author of recipe books – and with financial help from South Cambs District Council, which awarded the Gamlingay Food Project a £1,899 grant from its Community Chest to print 1,000 copies.

“The book,” says Adrian, “aims to help households using the Need Project Hub and Community Fridge to make the best use of food parcels through simple, low cost recipes. The featured recipes are by local chefs and community members.”

In addition to the physical printed copies (£10.00 for the 72 page softback edition, with lots of excellent photographs), the book is also available as a PDF download, extending its reach beyond those who rely on food hubs to residents in South Cambridgeshire and a much wider public.

A fuller description of the book is on the Gamlingay Baptist Church website: www.gbchurch.org.uk/cookbook.

If you want to know more about the Gamlingay Food Project or help out in any way, please speak to one of their wonderful volunteers.

_{Post created 15th December 2024; updated 5th June 2026.}