ABOUT US

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Welcome to Olive Branch Aid

We are an independent food bank and support charity that has been doing things a little differently since Covid hit us all in 2020, impacting the lives of our friends and neighbours. Then a small group of parishioners at St Nectarios Church in Battersea shared stories and experiences of need and isolation and decided to do something about it. The priest and church agreed that they could use the church hall and even helped with the finances. Olive Branch Aid was born!

Our Partners

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Helping Hands

Meet the Olive Branch Aid Trustee Team

Sonya Antoniou-Pamment
Co-chair and Treasurer, Housing Consultant

Protopresbyter Christodoulos Christodolou
Co-chair, Priest in charge of St Nectarios Church

Sandra Mossios
Secretary, Partner Ernst & Young LLP

Linda Palmas
Operations, Sports Coach

Katy Cottage
Research and Network, Communications Executive, Dulwich College

Andrei Popescu
Technical Support, VP software Engineering Google UK

“Olive Branch Aid has supported us since Covid. Throughout Covid we delivered their foodbank parcels to all our free school meal children and this continued afterwards. A few families still need monthly support, especially with the current living crisis. A parent reached out to us regarding her friend who was really struggling, so we’ve even referred a family who are not at Telferscot. Thank you to OBA as without you guys we would not be able to manage. We promote OBA in our weekly newsletter, which also allows families to contact OBA directly.”

– Telferscot Primary School

“The work that Olive Branch Aid has been doing in our community is nothing short of remarkable… a system of support to those in need has made a significant impact on the lives of countless individuals and families.”

– Councillor Sarbaz Barznji, Mayor of Lambeth

“[Olive Branch Aid] is a beating heart that wishes to help those in need. What you’re doing is appreciated by those in need and many, many others as well.”

– Andreas Kakouris, High Commissioner for the Republic of Cyprus

“To provide for those who have less, for those who have need. We come here to work together as a community, to offer and make the world better.”

– Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain

“It fills us with pride and strength to know that behind us, in the community, that there are people using their precious time, effort and resources, to help others, and engage in the community and engage with locals – and move altogether in this common cause.”

– Christos Goulas, Director of Greek Consulate

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain

Whilst we function under the aegis of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain, whose ongoing support we are incredibly grateful for, we work with people and organisations from across London’s wonderfully diverse communities, those of faith and those without, from different countries and cultures. What started as a solution to what we all hoped would be a short term crisis has grown into an organisation that, in 2022, fed the equivalent of 61,000 people for a day.

The Arch

Operating for many years from the Church Hall at St Nectarios, Olive Branch Aid was delighted to move into bigger premises at the start of 2023. These new premises give us the space to expand the range of services we provide to include benefits advice, utility and debt support, language lessons and well-being support services.

OUR HISTORY

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2020
Battersea Beginnings

From its beginning, Olive Branch Aid operated from the hall of Saint Nectarios Church in Battersea.

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2020
Covid 19

Olive Branch Aid is born out of the Covid pandemic with the sole mission of providing immediate relief to the most vulnerable in our community, helping support individuals, families and school communities in the London boroughs of Wandsworth, Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and Croydon.

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2020
Joining Forces

Joining forces with other charities, some of the people we support are critical NHS workers during the pandemic.

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2021
Building a following

In August, we took our first steps on social media, where we highlight our volunteers and the work we do.

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2021
Christmas donations
In December, Olive Branch Aid is invited by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain to attend their annual Christmas Concert, hosted at Saint Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral. The collection is generously donated to Olive Branch Aid.
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2022
Charity status

In April 2022, with a board of six volunteer trustees, Olive Branch Aid becomes a Registered Charity.

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2022
Asda donation

Congratulations! In February, we received a one-off donation from Asda as part of the Green Token Giving campaign. We’re also successful in a bid to purchase a freezer.

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2022
Growing support

In March, our partnerships expand with support from The Felix Project, Lambeth Healthy Living and Critical NHS, who supply us with all-important fresh produce.

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2022
A holy visitor

In October, Olive Branch Aid is delighted to welcome His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew as part of his official visit to the UK to celebrate the Centennial of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain. During his visit, he meets with volunteers and hears from trustees about the work that Olive Branch Aid does and the people we support.

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2023
MOVING LOCATION

In January, with the geneorus support of a donor, Olive Branch Aid moves into the Arch on Portslade Road, SW8.

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2023
Renovating

Work begins to make the shell of the Arch our new home and set it up for a foodbank with space for an office, meeting area and workshop space.

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2023
opening celebration
In May, we officially open our doors and celebrate with representatives from the Archdiocese, local council, Embassy, friends, family, supporters, volunteers and further afield.
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2023
welcomed visitors

On 4 July, Mrs Annita Demetriou, President of the House of Representatives Cyprus, visits Olive Branch Aid to see first-hand the work we do – she meets with Trustees and volunteers to hear more.

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2023
Corporate volunteering
In July, teams of colleagues from different companies are welcomed to help us pack parcels and more…
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2023
Expanding
Our work expands… helping to alleviate food poverty continues, but our reach has expanded to help people with broader wellbeing issues – whether it’s social or housing advisory support, clothing, household items, or English language lessons, Olive Branch Aid is there.
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2023
Our Beating Heart
Our volunteers, affectionately known as family, continue to be the beating heart of all the work we do.
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MORE THAN A FOOD BANK

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