Wansbeck Valley Food Bank (360G-Coalfields-Regen-73-26792-2021-11-04)

We provide food aid to those in need in our area. There can be many reasons for the need, e.g. • long-term unemployment, • benefit changes, with a gap in payments, • employed, but struggling to feed their families. Traditionally, we generated stocks of dried/tinned supplies of basic food types via donations from various community organisations (schools, churches etc.) and via supermarket collections; these were supplemented by the purchase of fresh perishable foods. Owing to the pandemic, the balance between donations and bought-in food has reversed. We now expend considerable sums each month purchasing food - almost £30,000 in the first nine months of 2021. The amount requested will therefore fund almost one month’s food purchases to be provided to local families in need. We provide standard food parcels which are supplemented with items specific to need, e.g. nappies. These are sufficient for individuals/families to feed themselves for up to 3 days. The packs were previously issued solely at the request of care professionals, subject to appropriate checks. We now accept some self-referrals. These parcels are now delivered to homes. In addition, we also provided emergency packs to referring professionals, so that they could issue them immediately when this is required.