About

How foodbanks work

Providing emergency food to people in crisis.

Every day people in the UK go hungry for reasons ranging from illness, 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 store it ready to be given to people in need. Over 40,000 people give up their time to volunteer at foodbanks nationwide.

Professionals identify people in need

Foodbanks partner with a wide range of care professionals including health visitors, social prescribers, social workers, school family liaison officers, probation officers and police plus organisations like the CAB, Bechange, Community Wardens 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  and are able to signpost people to agencies able to solve the longer-term problem.

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