Walton Charity has moved its community support hub, The Bridge, into a significantly larger, permanent facility at the Church Farm Shop premises in Hersham (on the border with Walton-on-Thames), Surrey, in January 2026. The expansion is intended to help more working families who are struggling with rising living costs but often do not qualify for standard government benefits.
The new facility replaces a smaller pilot project and will offer more than emergency food. Families will be able to use a shop-without-a-till community pantry and access wraparound services including specialist money and benefits advice and mental-health and wellbeing support from local partner organisations.
Using the former shop premises has enabled the charity to add outdoor space for community gardening and wellbeing activities. Families are referred to The Bridge by local schools, GPs (doctors), Citizens Advice, Home-Start, Elmbridge Family Centre and other partner organisations to ensure the service reaches those in need.
The move follows the closure of the Piglets play centre, which previously occupied the Church Farm site. Walton Charity’s Impact Report for 2023–24 notes the hub’s reliance on local volunteers (the charity’s reporting references over 60 volunteers and more than 5,000 volunteer hours across The Bridge, foodbank and green-space programmes).
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