Bestwood & Bulwell Foodbank opens new centre in Bulwell to help local people facing hunger
A local food bank charity is opening a new centre in St Mary’s Church in the centre of Bulwell in Nottingham to help people trapped in poverty and unable to cover the cost of food. The Bestwood & Bulwell Foodbank, part of the Trussell Trust network, identified a significant upwards trend in the number of people walking from the Bulwell area to access help at its original centre in St Philips Church, Top Valley. The increase in demand has been driven, in large part, by the the increasing financial pressures local people are facing due to the covid19 pandemic.
In the last year, 4,000 three-day emergency food parcels were provided to local people by the food bank, nearly half of which of which went to children. The Bestwood & Bulwell food bank was set up in 2012 by local people and faith communities coming together to address the issue of food poverty in this part of the city of Nottingham. Over that time, they have provided local people with enough food for nearly a quarter of million meals.
Everyone who comes to the food bank is referred by a professional like a health visitor or housing association worker. The new food bank centre at St Mary’s in the centre of Bulwell will mean people in the area given a food bank voucher no longer have to travel long distances to receive support.
The food bank centre will run between 1pm to 3pm from the 25th November on Wednesdays on at Highbury Rd, Nottingham NG6 9AD. Further times and days may be added in due course.
Fr Andrew Fisher, Vicar of St Mary’s, said, “North Nottingham, which includes Bulwell and Top Valley, are some of the most deprived regions in the country. Market stalls and shops in Bulwell have been lost, some quite recently because of the pandemic. Whatever we can do to help people in these extraordinary times, we must.”
Nigel Webster, the Bestwood & Bulwell Foodbank Manager, said:
“No one should need a food bank in Nottingham- it’s not right that anyone has to turn to charity for essentials, like food. That’s why we’re working with the Trussell Trust and other food banks across the country to campaign for changes to end the need for emergency food.
“Until we reach a future where the food bank’s help isn’t needed, we’ll do all we can to make sure local people get the best support, particularly as we move through this pandemic and beyond. We’ve been overwhelmed by the support we’ve received locally so far – the food bank really is run by the community for the community. We’d love to hear from anyone who is interested in getting involved to help stop hunger in Bulwell. Your skills could be exactly what we need.”
Anyone interested in supporting, or donating to the food bank can find more information at www.bestwoodbulwell.foodbank.org.uk