Going to a food bank for the first time may feel like a daunting prospect but we want you to feel as comfortable and welcome as possible when you visit one of our food banks.
Because we are part of The Trussell Trust network, you will need a referral from an external agency – of which there are many. Places like Citizens Advice, Money Advice Plus, Housing Trusts, domestic violence charities, schools and many other places are able to make a referral for you to access one of our food banks. They will need to ask you some questions about your circumstances and why you need emergency food support, and if they are satisfied that your need is genuine, then they will issue a voucher (electronically or on paper) which you should bring along to the allocated food bank on the day we’re open.
Some agencies might assess that you’ll need a number of food bank visits and make a referral with a few vouchers before a new referral is required. Others may just issue a voucher for a single visit, and would need to issue another voucher if you wanted to come again.
When you arrive, you’ll need to check in at our reception desk where we’ll process your voucher, and invite you to take a seat in our comfortable cafe-style seating area. You’ll be offered a (free) hot drink and usually there’s toast, cake or other tasty treats!
One of our friendly volunteers will then come and go through a list of food items with you, asking which items you need, before going and selecting them for you from our shelves. The volunteers are also very happy to chat with you if you just need a listening ear, and we can often help you connect with other services that might be able to support you with the particular challenges that you’re facing. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like (while we’re open!) and perhaps make some new friends while you’re there.
We understand that a parcel of food can be a short term lifeline, but obviously it’s not going to resolve the underlying reasons for why you’re needing to use the food bank. Therefore, we often have staff from agencies such as Money Advice Plus and Christians Against Poverty in the food banks, so that you can chat with them about financial and other issues you may be facing. They are trained and experienced in helping you access all the benefits and grants that you are entitled to (but may not be aware of), and in some cases can help with debt relief or housing issues etc.
In addition to all of that, we are part of Emmanuel Church – a vibrant and welcoming Christian community. We run Alpha courses which are an informal introduction to the Christian faith over a (free) meal, and our Sunday services are engaging and friendly – you are always more than welcome to come see for yourself! Find out more at weareemmanuel.com
