How foodbanks work

Every day people in the UK go hungry for reasons ranging from redundancy to receiving an unexpected bill on a low income. A simple box of food makes a big difference, with foodbanks helping prevent crime, housing loss, family breakdown and mental health problems.

Food is donated

Schools, churches, businesses and individuals donate non-perishable, in-date food to a foodbank. Large collections often take place as part of Harvest Festival celebrations and food is also collected at supermarkets.

Food is sorted and stored

Volunteers sort food to check that it’s in date and pack it into boxes ready to be given to people in need. Over 40,000 people give up their time to volunteer at foodbanks.

Professionals identify people in need

Foodbanks partner with a wide range of care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers and police to identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher.

Clients receive food

Foodbank clients bring their voucher to a foodbank centre where it can be redeemed for three days’ emergency food. Volunteers meet clients over a warm drink or free hot meal and are able to signpost people to agencies able to solve the longer-term problem.

Additional Help via Opportunities to Lo-cost Shop

This aspect of our work is currently suspended because of Covid-19 restricted working practices.

The Foodbank also receives some non-perishable food items from local supermarkets that they no longer wish to sell (but is still perfectly good food). Also there are occasions where our stocks of donated goods are far in excess of what we need in the coming months, or include an excess of items that do not typically form part of a balanced food parcel. This stock is then made available to people identified through the Foodbank and partner agencies in the form of a Lo-cost shopping session. On these occasions people are able to choose a set number of surplus items for a nominal charge.

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