WELCOME TO ELFA

East London Food Access (ELFA) Ltd promotes access to affordable fresh fruit and vegetables within the London Borough of Hackney. ELFA was formed in response to the growth of areas of 'Food Poverty' in East London, areas where good quality fresh fruit and vegetables are no longer locally available at an affordable price to people living on low incomes.

ELFA is a Social Enterprise and not-for-profit company Limited by Guarantee. We are driven by our aim to develop a local infrastructure to reduce 'Food Poverty', and to encourage local residents within the communities to improve their own and others health and well-being.ELFA contracts with health and education bodies to promote health and community development, and carries out a range of food related activities including research, consultancy, and project development and co-ordination. We co-ordinate and support eight fresh produce stalls within Hackney, all run by ELFA staff and volunteers.

ELFA is the most successful organisation of its type in the country.We have deliberately targeted our eight stalls in areas of high deprivation in one of UK's poorest boroughs. The localities in which we operate, although physically regenerated, remain homes to residents facing chronic disadvantage. We operate on Woodberry Down Estate, Nightingale Estate, Haggerston Estate, Gascoyne 2 Estate, as well in Primary Schools in or near Woodberry Down, Finsbury Park, Fellows Court and Stamford Hill.

Many of our elderly customers simply cannot carry their bags home, our volunteers do that for them. Many parents with children bring a banknote with them and spend every penny on fresh produce. In the first week of the month they spend £20, by the last week its just £5. We are researching the best way to support those who seeking help from local Food Banks and developing collaborative buying groups in three family settings in the borough.

Local volunteers are especially welcome. We hold the Investors in Volunteers Chartermark.