Bedford Foodbank

Bedford foodbank started in September 2011 and  is part of the Trussell Trust network of foodbanks who provide expert guidance and support.

Every day many people go hungry in our town for a vast variety of reasons such as redundancy, illness or receiving an unexpected bill whilst on a low income. Bedford food bank provides a minimum of three days of emergency food and support to local people experiencing crisis. In 2023 Bedford foodbank fed over 24,500 people (8691children) a 25% increase on 2022

Bedford foodbank relies on the local community through volunteering, food donations and fundraising. The warehouse is situated on Manton Lane and there are seven distribution centres across the Borough which each open one afternoon a week and cover Monday to Friday.

So, what happens to the items you give to a collection at a local school, business, church or club or place in the collection box at your local supermarket? Donations (non-perishable and in date) are collected on a morning by one of the two Bedford foodbank vans you may see out and about in the Borough. The donations are brought to the warehouse where they are weighed in (as part of the auditing process), date marked and put to shelf.

Food parcels are then packed by the warehouse volunteers into various sizes (one or two people and small and large families) consisting of three days’ worth of nutritionally balanced food. We also offer extra items including toiletries, cleaning products, washing powder, crockery, saucepans and baby items such as nappies. Crates of food parcels are loaded onto the van which then leaves for the one or two distribution centres open that afternoon.

Clients are referred to the foodbank by one of over 230 frontline care professionals who are working in the Borough such as social workers, teachers, health visitors and debt advisors. They identify people in need and issue an E voucher which the clients can exchange for a food parcel at one of the distribution centres. In addition, Bedford Citizen’s Advice attend the distribution centres as part of their outreach work. They are able to issue vouchers to those who have not been able to seek help from any other source as well as providing information and advice relating to the client’s underlying issue.

A quote from one of our volunteers recently:

 In a nutshell it’s about working with a very friendly team of volunteers (we always find time for a chat and a cup of tea) to provide emergency food to those who are in crisis. You know you have made a difference when a client tells you they are so grateful for their food parcel as they have not had anything to eat that day and have literally nothing left at home for the family dinner that night.

Bedford Foodbank has an exciting opportunity for you to join our Trustee Board, as we continue to serve the community of Bedford. If would like to be part of this friendly team please contact Sarah Broughton Operations Director sarah@bedford.foodbank.org.uk

More information about Bedford Foodbank can be found at https://bedford.foodbank.org.uk/