Branches Hostel

Branches Hostel Branches is a registered charity that provides temporary accommodation and resettlement support.

12/08/2026

July was another busy & rewarding month at Branches, with lots happening across the hostel and plenty of opportunities for residents to get involved, learn new skills and enjoy time together.

We completed the bike shed project, visited OrganicLea with the creative writing group, practiced our tai chi, welcomed volunteers from Stow Bros in to cook for residents as well as lots more.

Following a wonderful tour of OrganicLea, Nick guided us to the co-op's beautiful meeting room — a hand-built space nest...
10/08/2026

Following a wonderful tour of OrganicLea, Nick guided us to the co-op's beautiful meeting room — a hand-built space nestled quietly in the forest.

There, guided by some thoughtful prompts from Emma, we spent an hour writing prose inspired by our experience, with several promising poems beginning to take shape.

Afterwards, we were treated to a truly outstanding vegan lunch. What a wonderful day it was!

# poetry

This August, we're reaching out to our amazing community as we're running very low on some essential items for our resid...
07/08/2026

This August, we're reaching out to our amazing community as we're running very low on some essential items for our residents.

We really need men’s spray deodorant, shower gel, shampoo & conditioner, disposable razors, shaving foam/gel and bottles of fruit squash (dilutable), sugar, Cornflakes & other breakfast cereals, tins of fruit, tins of rice pudding and tins of hot dogs.

Please refer to the poster for all the details and drop-off at our main reception area between 9-5 pm, preferably Monday to Friday.

Every donation, no matter how small, helps us support people experiencing homelessness with dignity and care, we truly appreciate every little bit of support you can offer. Together, we can make a difference! 💙

On one of the hottest days of the year so far, Branches' creative writing group visited the wonderful OrganicLea. Nestle...
05/08/2026

On one of the hottest days of the year so far, Branches' creative writing group visited the wonderful OrganicLea. Nestled just inside Epping Forest in Chingford, OrganicLea is a working farm that grows organic fruit and vegetables — a beautiful oasis of calm and positive energy right on the edge of London.

Run as a cooperative by an incredible group of people, it welcomes volunteers and people from all walks of life into its sanctuary.

We were welcomed by Nick, who first gave us a fascinating insight into the origins and history of OrganicLea while we sat in the much-needed shade. He and his colleague, Sam, then took us on a tour of the farm, showing us what they grow and sharing all sorts of insights into what goes into organic farming.

# poetry

The hand rails are in! Great effort from our amazing volunteer and residents. 💪 We just need to add the bannisters to ea...
03/08/2026

The hand rails are in! Great effort from our amazing volunteer and residents. 💪 We just need to add the bannisters to each rail 🔨 and then the steps will officially be finished.

Next up is the bike shed roof 🚲 - we've got the clear polycarbonate sheeting and the fixtures - that's next week's job!

There are numerous ways to support our charity. Every contribution, regardless of its size, is appreciated! 🙏 We are gra...
03/08/2026

There are numerous ways to support our charity. Every contribution, regardless of its size, is appreciated! 🙏 We are grateful for your time spent volunteering, as well as donations of food, clothing, or toiletries, or financial contributions if you're able to help. ❤️
Make a financial donation. 💰
CAF (Charities Aid Foundation) securely handles all monetary donations, whether they are one-time or recurring. This allows us to ensure a safe environment for you to contribute your hard-earned money. 🛡️ We do not share your personal information.

Visit us on our donate page:

https://wfcbranches.org.uk/donate/

31/07/2026

Cathy and Alin love to cook up a feast! At Branches, food and cooking are truly at the heart of everything we do. Whatever is happening in the building, there is always a budding soul chef creating something special 😊

Cathy plays such an important role in the kitchen — from collecting food donations and organising supplies to sorting, distributing, keeping everything spotless and in line with health and safety standards, preparing meals, and supporting residents throughout the whole process. She really deserves a medal!

Here, Cathy and Ali are preparing a lovely meal on a hot May afternoon at Branches. We couldn’t do it without Cathy and the resident chefs at Branches!

We are very lucky at Branches to receive on a regular basis a great many donations from the community, from local reside...
29/07/2026

We are very lucky at Branches to receive on a regular basis a great many donations from the community, from local residents to businesses such as Wood Street Bakery.

In June a charming lady came in and donated 4 brand new, beautiful garden chairs. As you can see they really do look fantastic in our outdoor area and bring a lovely pop of colour which lifts the whole space.

These, coupled with our new steps for seating, have given residents a variety of new sitting options to choose from, whether they're having their morning cuppa or looking for a quiet moment to sit and relax.

Our fantastic creative writing volunteer and some of the residents are visiting OrganicLea this Wednesday 29 July.After ...
28/07/2026

Our fantastic creative writing volunteer and some of the residents are visiting OrganicLea this Wednesday 29 July.

After the wonderful success of the collaboration with the amazing people at Pulse & Pickles we were looking at ways to get the creative writing groups' material out to a wider audience.

We are delighted that the wonderful humans at OrganicLea have agreed to spread the written word to their vegetable box customers via a future newsletter. The residents will be having a tour of the site to get inspiration and then coming up with some fabulous prose linked to their experience.

&Pickles # poetry

Just 8 weeks after the materials were delivered and we're 80% completed on the Branches' Bike Shed Project! What a monum...
27/07/2026

Just 8 weeks after the materials were delivered and we're 80% completed on the Branches' Bike Shed Project! What a monumental effort by all involved 💪.

Jobs left - Bike Shed - we need to attach the roof and install the bike racks - Steps - we need to install the two handrails to make navigating the steps safer 🔨.

For now though, we think you'll agree that it looks pretty good and we've already had residents sitting on the steps which are nicely shaded, giving some much needed respite from the high temperatures that we've been having recently.

Address

740 Forest Road
London
E173HR

Telephone

+442085206363

Website

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