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Welcome to Diamond Hampers CIC, founded by Lianne, our dedicated director, who strives to transform the landscape of food aid and community support in Huntingdon.
At Diamond Hampers, we believe in bridging the dignity gap by offering not just assistance, but empowerment. Our mission revolves around providing a “hand up” instead of a “hand out,” ensuring that those in crisis receive balanced hampers filled with not only staple goods, but also fresh fruits, vegetables, frozen items, and essential homeware products—an innovative approach that sets us apart from traditional food aid providers.
Over the past five years, our two stores, the Pantry and the Attic, have become vital community resources, providing affordable shopping options while maintaining dignity and choice for our customers.
In the Pantry, we invite you to take advantage of our unique fill-a-basket deal for just £4, allowing you to select a variety of fresh and packaged items. The Attic offers quality second-hand clothing, with many items priced at only £1, as well as free or low-cost school uniforms to families facing extreme challenges. Through our efforts, we rescue an incredible 10 to 25 tonnes of food wastage every month, repurposed from local supermarkets and businesses to help meet the needs of our community.
Additionally, we’ve introduced the Chatty Cafe within our Pantry store, providing a warm and welcoming space for individuals to enjoy hot and cold meals while combatting loneliness and fostering connection. Our Menopause Cafe offers women a supportive environment to share their experiences, equipped with toolkits and expert guest speakers.
Together, with our amazing team of volunteers, we are committed to building lasting solutions for our clients, making referrals to external agencies, and empowering individuals to overcome their crises.
Join us in our mission to make a meaningful difference—whether through volunteering, donating, or simply visiting our stores, every effort counts. Thank you for being part of the Diamond Hampers journey, where community and compassion thrive!
At our organisation, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive support for young people transitioning out of care, and we work closely with the County Council to ensure they have the resources they need to thrive in their new independent lives.
One of our key initiatives is the “Moving On Box,” a thoughtfully curated package filled with essential household items such as appliances, dinnerware, and basic necessities.
This initiative not only empowers young individuals to establish their own homes but also plays a significant role in reducing the likelihood of engaging in criminal activities to acquire these essential items.
Our commitment to community welfare extends beyond young individuals; we also provide vital support to families facing urgent homelessness situations, such as those affected by domestic abuse, by equipping them with essential supplies to help them rebuild their lives.
In response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, we became a main support hub, successfully coordinating the dispatch of two full lorry containers loaded with food, medical supplies, clothing, and other essentials to those in need.
Our efforts continue in the UK as we assist refugees in settling down and navigating their new beginnings with dignity and support. Furthermore, we are excited to announce the launch of our community Allotment, which serves as a space for growth, education, and connection.
For more information about our initiatives and how you can get involved, please have a look through our website.
Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families in need.
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**Services We Offer:**
– **PAT Testing Service:** Our qualified PAT testers ensure the safety of all electrical appliances distributed to vulnerable families and sold in our store, while providing affordable testing services to local churches and businesses.
– **Fishing Team:** Designed to enhance mental health and well-being, our fishing team fosters community connections and often hosts competitions to raise funds for Diamond Hampers.
– **Community Allotment:** Our newly established allotment is seeking enthusiastic volunteers to help cultivate a thriving community garden.
**Achievements Over 5 Years:**
– Provided **530,000 meals** to vulnerable individuals.
– Saved **2.5 million kg of CO2** from entering the atmosphere.
– Raised over **£140,000** through various fundraising events.
– Prevented **£860,000 worth of food** from going to landfill.
– Generated an additional **3 million meals** through redirected waste for our Pantry.
– Helped over **1,900 families** transition from crisis to self-sustainability.
**Pioneering Initiatives:**
– Established two shops focusing on affordable living and dignity in accessing food and essential items.
– Initiated a waste redirecting effort that expanded from **10 collections a week** in our early days to **125 collections a week** now, inspiring other organisations to follow suit.
– Launched a unique hamper program, offering a fresh selection of fruits, vegetables, and nutritious foods—an unprecedented service in the local area.
**Community Impact:**
– Last year alone, we successfully assisted over **400 families** in moving away from emergency support, guiding them towards sustainable long-term solutions.
**Awards and Recognition:**
– **Gold Winner** – Lockdown Leader 2021 (Regional Business Awards)
– **Silver Winner** – Community Business of the Year 2021 (Regional Business Awards)
– **Bronze Winner** – Lockdown Leader 2022 (National Business Awards)
– **Bronze Winner** – Business Hero 2022 (National Business Awards)
– **Coronation Champion Award 2023**
– **Gold Winner** – Sustainable Business of the Year 2023 (National Business Awards)
**Special Commendations:**
– Received commendation letters from Her Majesty The late Queen and His Majesty The King for our community work.
– Attended Buckingham Palace for a garden party celebrating 500 Coronation Champions in the UK.
– Invited by Princess Catherine to a celebration at Westminster Abbey.
– Named **Best Food Hamper Provider in the UK** by LuxLife in 2023.
– Honored with the **High Sheriff Award** and reached the finals of the Suffolk and Cambridgeshire’s **Muddy Stilettos Awards 2023** in the Best Sustainable Lifestyle Business category.
– Awarded the **Points of Light** award from The Prime Minister.
– Recognized as a **Community Hero** by the Velvet Awards and named one of Huntingdonshire’s **Inspirational Women**.
We are proud to be for the people and the planet, always seeking new ways to support and uplift our community as we enter our 6th year of operation.
Proud member of IFAN
https://www.foodaidnetwork.org.uk/The Independent Food Aid Network’s strategy:
This strategy sets out how the Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) seeks to realise this vision and achieve its aims whilst upholding the core principles first outlined when the organisation was founded in 2016.
IFAN’s vision is of a UK where everyone can eat good food and emergency food aid is no longer necessary.
“Hunger doesn't take a day off, so neither do we”
Diamond Hampers PAT Testing Team
We have our very own PAT Testing team!
Lianne Simpson (founder and exc Director of DH), Ewan (Supervisor) and Jennie (Sales Assistant), Scott Chamberlain (Volunteer) are qualified PAT testers.
Together they lead our initiative that provides a much needed service.
With this team, they are able to carry out electrical testing on essential household items for those in need.
Such as young people leaving care.
They do this using calibrated safety testing equipment.
They can also test items that can then safely be sold in our Attic store. Helping us to raise vital funds!
Diamond Hampers are working to create a better future for the most vulnerable in society.
contact Us
- diamondhampers@yahoo.com
- 07769312711 Lianne
