Great Yarmouth Pathway

Aim: To continue to provide support and food, to empower clients with the tools they need to be financially independent and self sufficient.

Great Yarmouth Pathway provides food and essential crisis support, coupled with our financial wellbeing initiative through our in-house DIAL worker, who offers expert financial advice and support to individuals facing challenges.

Great Yarmouth Pathway’s vision is to be a transforming safe space of light, welcome and engagement for the community of Great Yarmouth to support those in need. The Pathway Cafe and Resource Centre was set up in 2014 to provide a free hot meal, community and support for people who need it:

“When we started The Great Yarmouth Pathway café, we imagined a safe place where people could warm-up, have hot food and that we can practically demonstrate that a person is loved and valued by our community” Barbara Rowe, Founding Volunteer, Great Yarmouth Pathway. 

 This has continued to be the vision. There are no criteria or restrictions, and no-one must justify their attendance. As a result, a very diverse group of people gathers, usually over 100 at each session.  

We are immensely proud of our history and foundations. Great Yarmouth Pathway is passionate about enabling our clients to develop financial resilience and sustainability through budgeting workshops, debt advice, employment support and mental health services.

We serve over 16,000 free hot meals every year, emergency food parcels for those facing a crisis period and signposting and support to over 600 unique service users each year. We offer a safe, comfortable, friendly environment; which allows clients to network and embrace every offer of support we have.

Great Yarmouth Pathway work in partnership with other agencies, also aims to help people to make positive life changes. Local agencies attend, offering advice and support to individuals. We have seen people make real progress because of this, for example moving into accommodation, attending training, getting jobs, accessing mental health support. Some have also felt able and willing to join our volunteer team. We work with finance specific charities like Citizens Advice, DIAL and help through hardship, who offer comprehensive financial assistant and our team of over 30 dedicated volunteers drive the provision on a weekly basis. 

“The support I received from DIAL whilst attending Pathway café enabled me to apply for benefits, I didn’t know I was entitled to. This additional money has meant that I have been able to move into my first ever rental property and I am living independently for the first time in my life. I was too nervous and embarrassed to go into DIAL’s offices, but I have been attending the café for a while and felt comfortable enough there to discuss my personal circumstances with the advisor and it’s the best thing I ever did!”

The demand we experience proves how essential Great Yarmouth Pathway is in Great Yarmouth, and as a registered charity we rely on your generosity to cover all core costs that enable us to serve our community. 

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 25th June 2025 at 9:06am