LICHFIELD FOODBANK ANNUAL REPORT – 5/7/2023
Thank you very much for your support, the support of your fellowships and the support of the whole community as you get behind us to help those in need in Lichfield and the surrounding villages.
In 2022-23, we provided 9457 food parcels, 38% of which were for children. This was an 80% increase on 2021-22.
Looking at the first quarter of 2023-24, i.e., 1 April 2023 to 30 June 2023, we have provided nearly 2500 food parcels, a 32% increase on 2022-23.
We have added a fifth food distribution session, on a Tuesday evening, 6.30pm-7.30pm, to cater for those who are in work but still struggling to meet their financial commitments. Numbers are increasing, with 32 food parcels given out this week which, pro-rata to daytime two-hour sessions, makes it the second busiest.
The number of food parcels provided over the last eight weeks has been quite volatile but is not increasing exponentially. It is averaging around 200 per week.
As part of our efforts to end the need for food banks in Lichfield by 2025, we have a CASES (Citizens Advice South-East Staffordshire) adviser at our four weekday food distribution sessions. In 2022-23 they were able to find additional benefits and achieve debt write-offs for our clients to a total of £109,000. This has had an impact on numbers needing to use our services, but we still see new clients every week.
We continue to provide three-days-worth of free food for all those who come to us, plus a voucher to buy fruit and veg on the market and bread at Hindley’s. Donations have increased year-on-year to by 9% - we thank the community for raising its game in times of financial difficulty. Clearly, this is not matching the increase in demand, and we are spending between £1000 and £1500 a week to keep our service going. We cannot continue this indefinitely even with support from the Trussell Trust.
We are one of the largest food banks in Staffordshire, and the largest run solely by volunteers. We are all very proud of this. Our drivers, distribution and warehouse teams, our Executive group, and our Trustees are all doing their utmost to support those in our community who are unable to afford the essentials.
Since we opened on 1 April 2014, we have now provided well over one million meals! In any other business, that would be something to celebrate but, sadly, not in ours!
We are, as always, very grateful for your support in the many ways that you help us.