Farnham Foodbank

2023

During 2023 Farnham Foodbank fed 2,764 people, of which 1,198 were children, these are similar numbers to 2022.  There are more reasons than one to select as a cause for needing a food parcel on a single voucher. Debt is the main reason for people needing food support accounting for around 63% of our referrals.  Other causes included Benefit Related (41%) Sickness (39%) and Personal Circumstance e.g. homeless, domestic abuse, change in relationship status (24%).

The provision of emergency food meets immediate need but it does not however address the underlying cause of someone coming to the Foodbank.  At our distribution centres our volunteers signpost clients to further support organisations who can help them and we work closely with Frontline Money Advice who help our clients with financial challenges. In May we launched our Community Coaching Programme. The role of a Community Coach is to walk alongside a client who wants but is struggling to make a significant change in their life, for example finding a job. The coach will help the client define their own goals and make them happen.
 
In October we received over 4,300kg of donations from local schools and churches from their Harvest Festival celebrations.  In addition to the emergency referrals, we gave Christmas hampers to schools who identified families that would struggle over the festive period. We also gave out Christmas hampers to every family and individual receiving a food parcel in December. 

2022

During 2022 Farnham Foodbank fed 2,787 people, of which 1,100 were children, a 21% increase on 2021. Low income was still the biggest reason for people needing our help accounting for around 57% of our referrals.  Other causes included Domestic Violence (12%) Benefit Delays (6%) Debt (6%) Sickness (5%) Homelessness (4%)  Benefit Changes (3%) and Delayed Wages (1%).

The provision of emergency food is vital and meets people’s immediate needs. It does not however address the underlying cause of the person’s crisis. During the year Farnham Foodbank employed a new Community Connector to help with signposting clients. This involves directing people to other services, organisations or groups to help and support them with the issues they are facing. Our Warehouse Manager stepped down after 6 invaluable years of service, and we have welcomed a new Warehouse Manager.

In October we received over 5000kg of donations from local schools and churches from their Harvest Festival celebrations.  In addition to the emergency referrals, we also gave out over 200 Christmas hampers to families who were likely to struggle over the festive period along with wrapped presents for the children. 

2021

During 2021 Farnham Foodbank fed 2,302 people, still up at pandemic levels seen in 2020 of 2,360 people up from 1,483 in 2019, 1,096 of those fed being children. Low income was still the biggest reason that people needed our help accounting for around 46% of our referrals, however this was slightly down on previous as we have seen a rise in need attributed to Domestic Violence (13%) then Benefit Delays (10%) and Debt (9%) related issues. Other reasons included Homelessness (5%), Sickness (5%), Benefit Changes (3%) and Delayed Wages (1%).

At the start of the year Farnham Foodbank employed a new Administrator to help our Project Manager deal with the increased demand and help with signposting clients. This involves directing people to other services, organisations or groups to help and support them with the issues they are facing. The provision of emergency food is vital and meets people’s immediate needs. It does not however address the underlying cause of the person’s crisis.

In October we received over 4000kg of donations from local schools and churches from their Harvest Festival celebrations.  In addition to the emergency referrals, we also gave out Christmas hampers to families who were likely to struggle over the festive period to 319 families across 22 schools and family centres, along with over 800 presents for the children. This totalled more than 8 tonnes or 1,600 bags/boxes of hampers and gifts!

2020

Farnham Foodbank fed 2,360 people in 2020, 1,119 of those fed being children. Low income was by far the biggest reason that people needed our help accounting for around 50% of our referrals; this was followed by benefit related issues, debt and ill health. Other reasons included domestic violence, homelessness, unemployment and delayed wages.

At the start of the year we employed a new Project Manager and were open three times a week, however as the Covid-19 pandemic hit, mid-March, the foodbank saw a dramatic increase in the number of people coming for support, many of them for the first time. At the peak, the number of people we served was more than three times higher than usual.

We saw a sharp rise in requests for home deliveries as families and individuals began self-isolating, while we were still running our distribution centres. When the lockdown started we switched to only providing deliveries and then once again partly opened for collections in September.

In October we received over 4,000kg of donations from local schools and churches from their Harvest Festival celebrations. In addition to the emergency referrals, we also gave out Christmas hampers to families who were likely to struggle over the festive period to 220 families across 22 schools and family centres, along with presents for the children. This totalled more than 6 tonnes or 1,300 bags/boxes of hampers and gifts!

Signposting is a core part of our foodbank. Due to the restrictions in place, we have been unable to chat to our clients so three volunteers call people after they have received their food parcel to check they are happy with their food, and to see if we can offer further help. This involves directing people to other services, organisations or groups to help and support them with the issues they are facing. The provision of emergency food is vital and meets people’s immediate needs. It does not however address the underlying cause of the person’s crisis.

2019

During 2019 Farnham Foodbank fed 1,483 people, 643 of those fed were children. Low income was again the biggest reason that people needed our help; this was closely followed by benefit related issues, debt and ill health. Other reasons included domestic violence, homelessness, unemployment and child holiday meals.

We were open three times a week, throughout the year, in two different locations for clients to come with their vouchers to receive food. We also supplied 2 Citizen Advice Bureaus with emergency food boxes; these were issued to clients when we were closed.

In addition to the emergency referrals, we also gave out Christmas hampers to families who were likely to struggle over the festive period. Local schools and family workers referred families to us for that service. We have been well supported by the local community and have seen a steady flow of food donations throughout the year. 22 schools and 14 churches donated their Harvest festival collections to us.

We ended the year once again with a Santa’s Grotto for the children of the families who received a Christmas hamper. It was a privilege to provide these children with an experience that they wouldn’t have otherwise had. For many, it was the only present they will have been given.

2018

In 2018 Farnham Foodbank fed 1,303 people, 554 of those fed were children. Low income was the biggest reason that people needed our help; this was closely followed by benefit related issues, debt and ill health. Other reasons included domestic violence, homelessness, unemployment and delayed wages.

We were open three times a week, throughout the year, in two different locations for clients to come with their vouchers to receive food. We also supplied 2 Citizen Advice Bureaus with emergency food boxes; these were issued to clients when we were closed.

In addition to the emergency referrals, we also gave out 132 Christmas hampers to families who were likely to struggle over the festive period. Local schools and family workers referred families to us for that service.

We have been well supported by the local community and have seen a steady flow of food donations throughout the year. 22 schools and 11 churches donated their Harvest festival collections to us.

In December we had a supermarket collection where we asked members of the public to donate festive items in support of the Christmas hamper project. This was incredibly successful and saw us collect plenty of seasonal treats which added a special touch to the hampers.

We ended the year with a Santa’s Grotto for the children of the families who received a Christmas hamper. It was a privilege to provide these children with an experience that they wouldn’t have otherwise had. For many, it was the only present they will have been given.

2017

During 2017 585 vouchers were redeemed, which resulted in Farnham Foodbank feeding 1,524 people, 624 of those were children. Benefit related issues were the biggest reason that people needed help; this was closely followed by low income and debt. Other reasons included domestic violence, homelessness, unemployment and delayed wages. Foodbank opened three times a week, throughout the year, in two different locations for clients to come with their vouchers to receive food. It also supplied 2 Citizen Advice Bureaus with emergency food boxes; these were issued to clients when Foodbanks were closed. In addition to the emergency referrals, foodbank gave out 114 Christmas hampers to families who were likely to struggle over the festive period. Local schools and family workers referred families to us for that service.

The foodbank also ran its first Eat Well Spend Less course. The six week cookery and budgeting course was run at a local children’s centre and was hugely successful. Foodbank aims to run more courses during 2018. The foodbank received 15,000 tonnes of food which was collected by 59 schools, churches, supermarkets and community groups. Just over 14,000 tonnes of food was distributed to those in need.

2016

In 2016 Farnham Foodbank fed 1,497 people, 715 of those fed were children. Benefit related issues were the biggest reason that people needed help; this was closely followed by low income and debt. Other reasons included domestic violence, homelessness, unemployment and delayed wages.

Foodbank opened four times a week, throughout the year, in three different locations for clients to come with their vouchers to receive food. It also supplied 2 Citizen Advice Bureaus with emergency food boxes; these were issued to clients when Foodbanks were closed. In addition to the emergency referrals, Foodbank gave out approximately 100 Christmas hampers to families who were likely to struggle over the festive period. Local schools and family workers referred families to us for that service.

In the early part of 2016 Foodbank moved its warehouse into the FCCT office facility. The new location has provided more suitable storage facilities and the volunteers with much improved working conditions. At times, Foodbank struggled to get enough food donations to cover demand, at those times it had to buy food in or take surplus stock from other foodbanks. That said, it did receive a huge amount of support from across the town. At Harvest time 40 churches and schools donated their collection to Foodbank which resulted in a stock increase of over 4,000kg.

2010

Farnham Foodbank, which was initiated in June 2009, opened its doors on 5 November 2010. Over 200 people in crisis were given at least three days food, a balanced diet with a suggested menu for the three days. The split between food given at the Distribution Centre, which opened Mondays and Fridays at Farnham Vineyard, and Emergency Food Boxes (EFBs), was approximately 50:50.

In it's first year Farnham Foodbank had 66 active volunteers from 11 churches in the area. Support in other forms including food donations, came from an additional seven churches in the area. A real bonus has been to see people from churches of differing denominations and no-Christians, working together, giving support to those in need.