Slough foodbank

Can you help us this summer and buy an urgent item or two from our shopping list? Stocks are very low and we need your support.

Orange juice (long-life)
Milk (long-life)
Meat (Tinned)
Vegetarian meals (Tinned)
Cooking sauces
Tea bags (small sizes)
Instant Mash

Toilet rolls
Sanitary pads
Deodorant
Toothpaste
Washing-up liquid

You can find our full wishlist here: https://slough.foodbank.org.uk/give-help-2/foodbank-wishlist/

You can find out how to donate instore or direct to our warehouse here: https://slough.foodbank.org.uk/give-help-2/donate-food/

You can donate online here: https://www.forcommongood.co.uk/apps/giftregistry/registry/128413

We're very grateful to Tesco for letting Slough foodbank collect customer donation bags in store from July-September. This will make a huge difference to our stock levels before another busy winter. Please pop in to the Taplow or Slough Extra store to see us and donate if you can. Thank you!

Places where kids eat free (or for £1) this summer...

Are you heading to Tesco this week? You can round-up your shopping at self-checkout to donate to us!* 💚

Every donation will help our food banks AND help us get closer to a better future, where nobody needs a food bank to get by. Thank you!

*Snapping a selfie at the till is optional - but encouraged! 😉

Together, we have the power to build a better future where we NEVER have to see a sign like this again – because EVERYONE can afford the essentials. 💚

Slough Foodbank is purchasing more food than ever before as donations are down and food poverty crisis is at its highest – the stark reality of the first 6 months of 2024

KEY MESSAGES:
• Stock purchasing increased by 17%
• Current stock in our warehouse is 32% lower
• Food poverty crisis continues: 6,081 food parcels distributed up 6%

Slough Foodbank is purchasing more stock than ever before as donations are decreasing and the need is increasing. We are now having to purchase over a fifth of all stock given to clients. This means that we are even more reliant on financial donations from supporters of Slough Foodbank.

At the end of June, the stock in the warehouse was 32% less than the same time last year. There is just under 14.5 tonnes compared with 21.3 tonnes last year. To add to the worry, over a third of the stock is surplus pasta and baked beans. The reality being that the key essential ingredients – like tinned meat, tinned fruit and vegetables, long-life fruit juice and milk – that make up our nutritious, 3-day food parcels are missing from the warehouse. We have empty shelves for some items and have only 1-2 weeks supply of other items which means that purchasing food has now become a priority. This puts huge demand on our resources both in terms of time and money.

Slough Foodbank Manager, Laura Cole commented:

“It is disheartening and some weeks overwhelming seeing first-hand the continuing need – there are new faces every week, as more and more people are facing food poverty crisis and turning to us, often as a last resort. With over 6,000 food parcels in the first half of the year, we are under real pressure to meet this demand both on supply of food, which we rely on donations for, as well as volunteers who sort food, prepare food parcels, deliver to our distribution centres and serve clients.

Through our partnership with Citizens Advice East Berkshire, we can see the complex issues that people in food poverty are facing. Rarely is it just one issue that forces them to need to use a Foodbank. More often it’s a range of issues including benefits, low income, debt, unemployment, housing, homelessness, ill health and general cost of living.

There is lots for us to do to ensure we can provide food during a time of crisis and continue to help raise the profile of food poverty and lobby for those who are in need. That’s why we are supporting the Trussell Trust’s campaign to ‘Guarantee our Essentials’ and that, at a minimum, Universal Credit should protect people from going without essentials such as food, household bills or travel costs.”

Read the full details on our website: https://slough.foodbank.org.uk/2024/07/03/slough-foodbank-is-purchasing-more-food-than-ever-before-as-donations-are-down-and-food-poverty-crisis-is-at-its-highest-the-stark-reality-of-the-first-6-months-of-2024/

Support us financially: https://slough.foodbank.org.uk/give-help-2/donate-money/
Support us by donating food: https://slough.foodbank.org.uk/give-help-2/donate-food/

We're going to be at and tomorrow collecting food donations. Please come to see us and donate a tin or two if you can, anything you can give will be much appreciated. Thank you!

Foodbank Shopping List | Slough Foodbank We are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by the Trussell Trust. Find out how to get emergency food and other support. Make a food donation or find out about volunteering.

Meet our hero of the week: Ali, 6 years old. He decided to design a poster and organise a collection in his block to help Slough foodbank with our most needed items. Thank you so much to Ali and his Mum for organising and dropping off this donation to us with what will make such a difference to those in food poverty in Slough. Can you too help with collecting donations in your neighbourhood, school or work place? Our current wish-list can be found on our website https://slough.foodbank.org.uk/give-help-2/foodbank-wishlist/

Any help you can give us will make such a difference to those in need. Remember: Be More Ali - thank you 😃!

!

Figures for food parcels provided by Slough Foodbank during May 2024, compared with May 2023.

Total number of food parcels: 999, a 35% increase
Number of adults: 630, a 41% increase
Number of children: 369, a 24% increase

So disheartening to see the increase continues - 35% for May 2024 vs 2023. More and more people are being left with no option but to turn to a food bank because Universal Credit is falling short. We know it doesn’t have to be this way. Our social security system should support any one of us when we need help and protect us from going without.

We need urgent action from the next UK Government to protect people from going without the essentials. Parliament has been dissolved and now Parliamentary Candidates are running for election in every constituency. Together we can call on these Candidates to sign the Trussell Trust’s pledge, committing to advocate for changes which will help ensure our social security system protects people from needing a food bank to survive.

Will you take three minutes to email your Candidates and ask them to sign our pledge?

Email your candidates now: https://action.trusselltrust.org/PPCPledge

Thank you for standing with us again as we call for a future where no one needs a food bank to survive.

This week marks Volunteers Week a chance to showcase and thank our wonderful volunteers who dedicate their time and energy and who collectively keep the operation of Slough Foodbank going at what is our busiest ever time. In fact, if all rotas are filled, it takes around 82 volunteers a week to keep us running.

During volunteers week we're celebrating our volunteers, highlighting the different volunteer roles available at Slough Foodbank and sharing volunteer stories. Today we're hearing from Alison- a home delivery volunteer.

How long have you been volunteering at Slough Foodbank?
I have been volunteering at Slough Foodbank for 18 months

What's your favourite thing about volunteering at Slough Foodbank?
I feel that I make a difference, as I deliver to those who aren't able to get to a distribution centre. The volunteers and staff at Slough Foodbank are lovely and made me feel welcome from day one.

What's a fun/interesting fact about you that we might not know?
I love walking and recently completed a 58km walk along the Jurassic Coast, starting at Corfe Castle and finishing in Weymouth.

Last year we provided 11,300 food parcels to people in Slough and the surrounding areas who were facing a food poverty crisis.
If you would like to consider joining us as a volunteer, please visit: https://slough.foodbank.org.uk/give-help-2/volunteer/

This week marks Volunteers Week a chance to showcase and thank our wonderful volunteers who dedicate their time and energy and who collectively keep the operation of Slough Foodbank going at what is our busiest ever time. In fact, if all rotas are filled, it takes around 82 volunteers a week to keep us running.
During volunteers week we're celebrating our volunteers, highlighting the different volunteer roles available at Slough Foodbank and sharing volunteer stories. Today we're hearing from Alistair- a driver volunteer.

How long have you been volunteering at Slough Foodbank?
Started with the Foodbank in October 2022.

What's your favourite thing about volunteering at Slough Foodbank?
I just enjoy doing something that gives people a chance. I came from a very humble background and my parents worked multiple jobs to make ends meet and put food on the table. I just hope that there’s a kid out there who’s family we help, who achieves something great because we helped in some small way.

What's a fun/interesting fact about you that we might not know?
Not sure there’s too much fun or interesting things about me to be honest. Started my career in the Oil business on exploration rigs in Africa and the Middle East.

Last year we provided 11,300 food parcels to people in Slough and the surrounding areas who were facing a food poverty crisis.
If you would like to consider joining us as a volunteer, please visit: https://slough.foodbank.org.uk/give-help-2/volunteer/

This week marks Volunteers Week a chance to showcase and thank our wonderful volunteers who dedicate their time and energy and who collectively keep the operation of Slough Foodbank going at what is our busiest ever time. In fact, if all rotas are filled, it takes around 82 volunteers a week to keep us running.

During volunteers week we're celebrating our volunteers, highlighting the different volunteer roles available at Slough Foodbank and sharing volunteer stories. Today we're hearing from Brenda - a home delivery volunteer.

How long have you been volunteering at Slough Foodbank?
I’ve been volunteering about 3 years I think.

What's your favourite thing about volunteering at Slough Foodbank?
I love watching the relief and pleasure on people’s faces when they receive their food bags when I deliver them. Nobody wants to go hungry or know they cannot provide for their family.

Last year we provided 11,300 food parcels to people in Slough and the surrounding areas who were facing a food poverty crisis.

If you would like to consider joining us as a volunteer, please visit: https://slough.foodbank.org.uk/give-help-2/volunteer/

This week marks Volunteers Week a chance to showcase and thank our wonderful volunteers who dedicate their time and energy and who collectively keep the operation of Slough Foodbank going at what is our busiest ever time. In fact, if all rotas are filled, it takes around 82 volunteers a week to keep us running.

During volunteers week we're celebrating our volunteers, highlighting the different volunteer roles available at Slough Foodbank and sharing volunteer stories. Today we're hearing from Bev - a warehouse volunteer.

How long have you been volunteering at Slough Foodbank?
I joined the Foodbank in October 2021.

What's your favourite thing about volunteering at Slough Foodbank?
The wonderful team of people I work with.

What's a fun/interesting fact about you that we might not know?
When Sue, Lydia and myself started working together, we discovered we all had the same birthday (28 August). Very strange indeed.

Last year we provided 11,300 food parcels to people in Slough and the surrounding areas who were facing a food poverty crisis.

If you would like to consider joining us as a volunteer, please visit: https://slough.foodbank.org.uk/give-help-2/volunteer/

This week marks Volunteers Week a chance to showcase and thank our wonderful volunteers who dedicate their time and energy and who collectively keep the operation of Slough Foodbank going at what is our busiest ever time. In fact, if all rotas are filled, it takes around 82 volunteers a week to keep us running.

At Slough Foodbank, as part of this year's celebrations, we decided to make up and give away a few hampers as our way of saying thank you for all that our volunteers do for us. These hampers are made up of some donated items that we could not share with our clients (due to alcohol content, etc). Unfortunately, we didn't have enough hampers for everyone, so we chose the winners by picking names out of a jar!

During volunteers week we will announce the winners to you, as well as on our social media channels, to celebrate our volunteers, highlight the different volunteer roles available at Slough Foodbank and to share some of our volunteer's stories. Look out for our updates over the week!

Last year we provided 11,300 food parcels to people in Slough and the surrounding areas who were facing a food poverty crisis.

If you would like to consider joining us as a volunteer, please visit: https://slough.foodbank.org.uk/give-help-2/volunteer/

Closed Bank Holiday Monday 27th May
Our Distribution Centre, Warehouse and Office are closed on Monday 27th May. We will be back to normal operating hours from Tuesday 28th May.

APRIL 2024 STATS: A 19% INCREASE IN FOOD PARCELS VS APRIL 2023

Total number of food parcels: 1010, a 19% increase
Number of adults: 682, a 30% increase
Number of children: 328, a 2% increase

This month we saw a large increase in the number of adults, particularly single clients needing support. Last month we reported a decrease in the number of food parcels, which we thought was a temporary position due to the timing of cost of living payments both in 2024 and 2023. It is sad and disappointing but not unexpected, to see the reversal during April 2024 to an increased demand for our services.

Our Distribution Centre, Warehouse and Office are closed on Monday 6th May for the Bank Holiday. We will be back to normal operating hours from Tuesday 7th May.

Locations | Slough Foodbank We are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by the Trussell Trust. Find out how to get emergency food and other support. Make a food donation or find out about volunteering.

Slough Foodbank receives £5000 from to help those in food poverty crisis in Slough and the surrounding areas.

The money will go towards the purchase of basic toiletries for the toiletry pack that we give alongside a food parcel. Including: toilet roll, soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, shaving foam, razors, sanitary pads, baby wipes, nappies and washing-up liquid.

The demand for Slough Foodbank has increased year on year. There were 11,300 food parcels during 2023 an increase of 21% on the previous year. Due to the cost of living crisis, we have had a significant decrease in the amount of food and toiletries donated, resulting in Slough Foodbank purchasing both food and toiletries.

Laura Cole, Slough Foodbank Manager commented: “We are so grateful to Berkshire Community Foundation for this grant specifically for toiletries. We have to focus on our primary objective of providing food parcels and we are purchasing more food due to increased demand and decreased donations. Recently we’ve been struggling to provide the toiletries that we would like to, so this grant will be so helpful.”

Jon Yates, CEO of Berkshire Community Foundation, said: “At Berkshire Community Foundation, we work to enable vibrant, caring and resilient communities by directing philanthropic funds towards charities that perform vital functions for local people. We are delighted to support Slough Foodbank in its important work and look forward to the positive impact enabled by this grant.”

Slough Foodbank’s primary function is to supply a three-day emergency food parcel to those who suddenly find themselves in an unexpected food poverty crisis. In addition to food, we also supply basic toiletries.

Berkshire Community Foundation works across Berkshire to raise, then distribute, funds to charities and community groups in the County.

Berkshire Community Foundation - Berkshire's Charitable Hub We are Berkshire's charitable hub - connecting people who care with causes that matter; raising and distributing money to vital local groups.

March stats:
Figures for the number of food parcels provided by slough Foodbank during 1 - 31 March 2024, compared with March 2023.

Total number of food parcels: 988, a 19% decrease
Number of adults: 648, a 10% decrease
Number of children: 340, a 32% decrease

Whilst this decrease may at first seem encouraging, we do need to consider factors that may have contributed to this. The timing of the cost of living payments both in 2023 and 2024 meant that March 2023 was the busiest month ever for Slough Foodbank, whereas the payment in Feb 2024 would have helped cause a temporary decrease in need.

Please note the changes to our Distribution Centres, Warehouse and Office over the Easter Bank Holiday

Friday 29th March– All closed
Saturday 30th March – Britwell open
Monday 1st April – All closed

We will be back to normal operating hours from Tuesday 2nd April.

Locations | Slough Foodbank The Trussell Trust runs the largest network of food banks in the UK, giving emergency food and support to people in crisis. Fourteen million people live below the poverty line and in the last year close to 3 million emergency food parcels were distributed to people in crisis.

Figures for the number of food parcels provided by Slough Foodbank during February 2023 vs February 2024.

Total number of food parcels: 953, an increase of 4%
Number of adults: 619, an increase of 10%
Number of children: 334, a decrease of 6%

There was a 4% increase in the number of emergency food parcels provided and we saw a significant increase in the number of adults needing help with a 10% increase. This during a month where the Government cost of living payments had been made. It’s a sad reality that the demand for Slough Foodbank continues.

Whilst demand is increasing, we've noticed a decrease in the number of food donations we are receiving. We rely on the generosity of the Slough community to donate food, so we can meet demand. Are you able to help donate essential items such as tinned meat, tinned tuna, tinned vegetables and long-life fruit juice? Our shopping list is always available on our website:

Foodbank Shopping List | Slough Foodbank The Trussell Trust runs the largest network of food banks in the UK, giving emergency food and support to people in crisis. Fourteen million people live below the poverty line and in the last year close to 3 million emergency food parcels were distributed to people in crisis.

After what has been our busiest ever period at Slough Foodbank, we are finding ourselves short of quite a number of essential items in our warehouse. The photos below show empty shelves as donations have reduced. We've had to buy more food to meet our demand but we still need more. This week we are in urgent need of long-life items including:
- Fruit juice
- Cooking sauces
- Rice pudding
- Tinned vegetables.

There are various ways you can help support us:
Donate in-store at permanent collection points:
Deliver to our warehouse
https://slough.foodbank.org.uk/give-help-2/donate-food/
Buy online
https://www.forcommongood.co.uk/apps/giftregistry/registry/128413?rsid=1
Support us financially
https://slough.foodbank.org.uk/give-help-2/donate-money/

We really appreciate all your support.

Considering giving something up for Lent? Why not GIVE something instead?

We’re doing everything we can to support people on the lowest incomes in our community. We urgently need long-life donations of…
🥫 Soup
🥫 Rice pudding
🥫 Cooking sauces
🥫 Fruit juice
🥫 Shampoo
🥫 Washing-up liquid

You can find out more about our most needed items and how to donate here:
https://slough.foodbank.org.uk/give-help-2/donate-food/

Thank you