It all started when…
Love Bexley is a family support service hosted by New Community Church for families in the London Borough of Bexley. It was launched in 2017 and has helped multiple families in the borough who are struggling and need help through referrals from frontline professionals. After raising five children herself, Lucy understood the financial pressures that come with providing for a family. Having experienced the support of her church community, she wanted to extend that same care and compassion to families across the Bexley area.
Working in partnership with frontline professionals, Love Bexley originally focused on supporting families most in need by providing clothing and essential items. Over time, the service expanded to include furniture and other practical support, helping to ease the pressure on those facing difficult circumstances and helped many families each year with items ranging from clothes and baby essentials to beds, sofas and wardrobes.
In March 2023, Love Bexley became a trusted distributor of the Bexley Household Support Fund (BHSF). The BHSF was a national grant funded by the Department for Work and Pensions and was made available to support those most in need with the rising cost of living.
The Fund was intended to support a wide range of low-income households, including families with children of all ages, pensioners, unpaid carers, care leavers, and disabled people. In particular, it helped those who were experiencing hardship but were not eligible for other forms of government support at that time.
Since April 2023, the Council had provided around £150,000 for Love Bexley to distribute through the Bexley Household Support Fund. Overall, the funding enabled Love Bexley to support more than 700 families with tangible items ranging from cookers fridge freezers, beds to school uniform and shoes and vouchers to help with food and heating costs.
The funding also supported the many individuals and families who attended the organisation’s warm spaces and community projects, helping to provide practical support and a welcoming environment during difficult times.
NOW…
In April 2026, Love Bexley restructured its services following the end of Council funding. As part of these changes, the organisation refocused its support for local families through the launch of the Love Bexley Little Essentials Hub at its building in Sidcup. The charity also began accepting self-referrals, helping make support more accessible for families in need.
The Love Bexley Little Essentials Hub provides good quality second-hand clothing and essential items for children aged 0–5 years, including toiletries, blankets, nappies, toys, books, and other everyday essentials.
Alongside this support, families are welcome to stay for lunch and enjoy a warm, welcoming space where they can connect with others and access further support within the local community.