01.
Meet 'N' Eat
Pine Close
Meet’n’Eat: Nourishing Thetford Through Food and Friendship
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Meet’n’Eat is a volunteer-run community café in Thetford that opens its doors once a week to anyone in need of a hot meal, company, or support. The team behind Meet’n’Eat believes that no one in the community should have to go hungry or feel alone.
Relying on generous food donations from Fareshare and Tesco, Meet’n’Eat has grown significantly since its launch. In just one year, the initiative has expanded from serving 20–30 meals on a Wednesday evening to now providing 100–150 meals each week.
The café welcomes a wide range of guests, including people experiencing homelessness, young families on low incomes, and individuals facing loneliness. Alongside meals, the team also offers essential items such as clothing, blankets, and toiletries.
Meet’n’Eat operates on a “pay what you can” basis. Guests are encouraged to make anonymous donations if they are able. Alternatively, they can donate unopened dry or tinned food for a swap. If they are unable to contribute in either way, they are invited to give their time and many do. Several homeless guests volunteer by helping with tidying and washing up, allowing them to stay warm longer while giving back to the project.
Staffed entirely by volunteers of all ages, Meet’n’Eat is more than a café it’s a community lifeline. With the right support, the team hopes to expand their reach and continue making a meaningful difference across Thetford.
02.
The Benjamin Foundation “Meet Up” St. Johns Branch
Meet Up: Empowering the Redcastle Furze Community in Thetford
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Meet Up, based on Thetford’s Redcastle Furze Estate, is a vital youth and community service working to address key challenges around wellbeing, inequality, mental health, and social disadvantage.
Established in 2010, Meet Up is committed to raising aspirations and ambitions among young people, helping them work toward meaningful, achievable life goals.
The organisation partners with local residents to improve quality of life by building essential life skills, boosting self-esteem, enhancing health, and fostering resilience. This is achieved through a variety of personal development programmes, learning and support groups, and one-to-one services tailored to individual needs.
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Meet Up also collaborates with external agencies to bring in additional services and activities, while signposting individuals to specialist advice and support where needed. At its core, Meet Up strives to create positive, lasting, and sustainable change in the lives of those it serves within the local community.
03.
Citizens Advice
Thetford Branch
Citizens Advice Thetford: Free, Confidential Support for All
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Citizens Advice Thetford is a trusted local branch of the national Citizens Advice network, offering free, impartial, and confidential advice to help people navigate a wide range of everyday issues. The service is open to all members of the community, with a focus on supporting those who may be vulnerable, struggling financially, or facing complex life challenges.
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Thetford’s branch provides expert guidance on topics including benefits, debt, housing, employment rights, family issues, consumer protection, and more. Trained advisers work with clients to understand their situation and explore options, empowering them to make informed decisions and take control of their circumstances.
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In addition to one-to-one advice sessions, Citizens Advice Thetford helps people access specialist support services through referrals and partnerships with other local organisations. The team also gathers anonymous case data to inform national campaigns and influence policy changes that improve lives across the UK.
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At its heart, Citizens Advice Thetford exists to ensure no one faces life’s challenges alone offering a lifeline of practical support and reassurance when it’s needed most.