STRUGGLING FOOD-BANK CALLS AN EMERGENCY MEETING AFTER FACING POTENTIAL CLOSURE

For a local community suffering the harsh realities and impacts of austerity, they have been an essential lifeline, sadly they are now under the very real prospects of potential closure if funding and new premises can not be found within the next four months.

Within the last 12 months there have been 5,741 three-day emergency food parcels handed out to struggling families in Salford, a substantial increase of 24% on the previous year.

It is utterly heartbreaking to think that in this day and age there are still people struggling to make ends meet and to put food on the table but this is the sad reality of the world we live in.

Now the future of the food-banks is in jeopardy and their fate will be decided at a public stakeholder meeting held at the Go Church in Salford Quays at 5:30pm - 7:00pm on the 14th of November.

Anyone with ideas, experience in funding or fundraising, skills to offer or who wants to be part of the solution is invited to join the meeting, where attendees will come up with positive actions to ensure its survival.

In April 2019, Salford Food-bank faced a huge challenge when it didn’t secure crucial funding to meet increased demand.

Salford Food-bank is run by two part-time staff and 70 volunteers who process and give out around 35 tons of donated food annually. However, its largest monthly costs are staff salaries and its premises.

Salford Food-bank has its main food bank centre and food store at Christ Central, Mocha Parade in Lower Broughton but due to redevelopment, new premises will need to be found by early 2020 for it to remain open, so the charity welcomes suggestions of low-cost space for rent.

Food-bank trustee Naomi Whitman says:

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“Salford Foodbank has been a lifeline for over 20,000 people in Salford since it opened in 2012. What would happen to those families in our community who are locked in poverty if the food bank were to close is a stark prospect.

The staff and trustees have worked tirelessly to keep the food bank running, keeping costs low and relying on generous donations from the community and smaller funds. Sadly we’ll have no choice but to close if a solution is not found on 14th November.”

 

Go Church, Studio4, Dallas Court, Salford M50 2GF
Refreshments Provided
Sign up here.

If you are unable to attend the meeting but are able to help, please email: engagement@salford.foodbank.org.uk
A phone call can be arranged with team member.