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This was a truly unforgettable day as I had the incredible honour of receiving my MBE medal from The Princess Royal! Being recognised in this way is a profound privilege, and I am truly grateful for this unforgettable moment.

I have been waiting a while to post this!
Promised myself I wouldn’t cry. But all I’ve done is cry with pure joy, overwhelming emotion and shock!
I have had some incredible awards, honours and commendations for the work I do but I think this is the peak of them all.
I have been made an MBE!!
The King has now publicly announced his honours list and in 2026 I will have the privilege of being presented my MBE.
I say it all the time, but I truly mean it. I don’t do it for reward or anything in return. I do it to make a difference to people’s lives.
I am just an ordinary person trying to make an extraordinary difference to both people and the planet.
I have never and will never let my own physical restrictions and battles prevent me for making a difference in this world.
I want to be the light at the end of a dark tunnel, the hand up people need and the support people need when they feel like they can’t go on.
I am so utterly blessed to have the most incredible team behind me. A team that echo’s my dreams and ambition, that follows my crazy ideas and most importantly supports me throughout.
My entire team are the most incredible people I’ve ever had the privilege of working alongside.
My family, my friends, my children and my incredible better half of me – Ewan. You are my everything and without your endless support, love and belief in me, I simply couldn’t do it.
Ewan especially – you always believe in me, always hold me up, youre always so proud of me and I am so utterly blessed to have you in my life. I love you so much more than you’ll ever realise.
This is all beyond what I could ever have dreamed!
Lianne Simpson MBE
Wow!!!
This month I met with Paul Bristow – The Mayor for Cambridge and Peterborough.
Joining me was Adrian and Jonathan from FareShare and one of my incredible volunteers Kerrie.
It was a lovely opportunity to share the work we are doing to help reduce food waste, supporting vulnerable people across the community and providing dignity and empowerment through my organisation Diamond Hampers CIC – Community Support Organisation.
I look forward to working with Paul in the future!
During this incredibly cold and challenging time, we are dedicated to supporting our community in every way possible. Our three non-profit stores are here to provide warmth, comfort, and assistance — all completely free and designed with your needs in mind:
– **🫖 The Pantry (All Saints Passage, Huntingdon, PE29 3LE)**
A welcoming space where you can enjoy **free hot soup and a roll**, along with **hot drinks** to warm your hands and heart. We also offer **affordable food options** and a friendly atmosphere to share company and support during tough times.
– **🛏️ The Attic (12 St Benedicts Court, Huntingdon, PE29 3PN)**
Your safety and comfort are our priority. We provide **FREE blankets, hot water bottles, sleeping bags,** and **emergency toiletry supplies** to help you stay warm and cared for when you need it most.
– **🎲 The Toy Chest (16 St Benedicts Court, Huntingdon, PE29 3PN)**
A cosy and safe space where you can relax. Sit comfortably with a good book, enjoy a **board game**, or simply have a friendly chat over a **hot cuppa**. It’s a place to find warmth and companionship.
Additionally, I am here to support you with advice and guidance — whether you’re facing personal difficulties or just need someone to listen. Feel free to **get in touch** or **pop into any of our friendly stores** whenever you need help. We’re all in this together, and we’re here for you!
Just get in touch for support!
🌟 Celebrate World Book Day with Us! 📚✨
To honour the magic of reading and the power of stories, we are excited to give away **one book per child and adult**! Whether you’re a young reader just beginning your literary journey or an adult passionate about exploring new worlds, there’s a perfect book waiting for you.
Books are more than just pages; they are gateways to knowledge, imagination, empathy, and understanding. They inspire us, teach us, and connect us across cultures and generations. In a world full of distractions, books remind us of the beauty of learning and the importance of taking time to dream and reflect.
Join us in celebrating the joy of reading. Pick up your free book and let your story unfold! 📖💫

CAN YOU HELP?

𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 𝐔𝐒:
 
There are so many ways you can get involved to help us here at Diamond Hampers.
Without the support of volunteers or people in the community, we simply couldn’t keep running and providing the vital services that we do across the county.
 
Offering your 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 is one of the ways you can get involved and support us.
By 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐬, you will be helping us to run our stores, deliver our food hampers and of course collecting and redirecting food waste. – is this for you? Do get in touch with Lianne at diamondhampers@yahoo.com.
Why not visit our stores?
By 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐔𝐒, you are helping to support us.
We have two stores in Huntingdon.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐘 – open Monday to Saturday 9:30am till 2:30pm. Here you can fill a basket of food for just a £4 donation. You can access affordable food, help us raise vital funds and redirect food waste in the process!
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐂 – open Monday to Friday 9:30am till 4pm and Saturdays 9am till 5pm. Here you can access clothing from just £1 a piece, household items, toys and much more. You can access affordable clothing and living essentials whilst helping us raise crucial funds for our organisation.
If you can’t get to our stores, maybe you can help us 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄.
 
You can do this in a variety of ways:
We have our own store on 𝐕𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝, where we sell top brands and designer labels at affordable prices. Take a look and you might just find something you like and help us in the process.
We are members of 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐲𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠, where you can shop at thousands of online retailers and raise us money without costing you a penny. Check it out and choose us as your cause today. Every little penny donated via this, really does go a long way.
Maybe you could purchase something from our 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 on 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐨𝐧? That way, items get sent direct to us. These are items to help with food hampers, fundraisers and our Christmas gift appeals.
You could also simply just donate some pennies to us via 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐩𝐚𝐥. You just need to send to our Paypal email – diamondhampers@yahoo.com.
 
 
 
 
 

Allotment Update!

 
We are making steady progress at our allotment! Can you spare any time in the week and can maybe offer some support to get our community garden flourishing! 
This BRAND NEW project will enable residents on referral to grow their own food, promoting healthier eating habits and reducing food costs.
By growing their own produce, residents can improve their diets with fresh, organic vegetables and fruits, directly impacting public health.
The use of sustainable farming practices in these allotments can significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with food production. This project encourages composting, water conservation, and the use of organic pest control, contributing to biodiversity and a healthier local ecosystem.
Together we can cultivate a healthier, more self-reliant, and environmentally conscious community.

January!

Just like many others, January was hugely successful in terms of the support we could offer and the people we managed to help.

We supplied 3,213 meals to people through our food hampers across the wider community.

We have rescued 18 tonnes of food waste, which has generated approximately 42,660 meals! This is through our redirected waste in our Pantry store!

We saved a whopping 30,600kg (PPM) of Co2!

We prevented a whopping £14,400 worth of food from rotting in landfill!

We have helped 20 families improve their situations, by finding longer term solutions to shape brighter and more sustainable futures.

We continue to help eliminate the need for food aid and strive to live in a world where EVERYONE can afford to shop and live independently!

“Hunger doesn't take a day off, so neither do we”

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