Feeding Families is an innovative charity providing food support to thousands of families, but is not a food bank. Their thinking outside the box has re-imagined solutions to food poverty across the region.
Rising up from grassroots in 2017 and registering as a charity in 2018, they have developed a strategic region-wide model that is growing at a phenomenal rate. While food banks offer support to many, not everyone has access – they may have physical or mental health problems, are at work when food banks are open or live in a rural location, for example.
Feeding Families currently supplies 184 partners across the region with multiple boxes which can be distributed quickly and locally when the need arises. They don’t deal with the end recipient, meaning a reduction of administration and data collection, but equip the experts who are dealing face to face with poverty issues to be able to offer food as a first intervention. This means that these professionals can focus on their area of expertise to help people out of debt, domestic violence, sanctions etc. rather than chasing food supplies for each client. This collaboration not only feeds bodies but provides release from stress when there is certainty of food being available.
During the past year they have seen unprecedented growth for Feeding Families. Demand for their service increased by 102%. This was a combination of their emergency boxes, Welcome Home boxes (originally designed during Covid for patients being discharged from hospital but now a no/low cook option for those struggling for fuel) and their toiletry and cleaning packs.
As the cost-of-living crisis bit hard they saw more people in the region fall into difficulties. There is no stereotype now of people in food poverty – people are as likely to be working as not. Feeding Families has worked hard to draw the community together to provide support on the basis that it could be any of us that slip into difficulties in these hard times. They have seen volunteer numbers rise and, while food donations from the public have fallen understandably, they have been able to more than double their income to buy the food they need in bulk quantities.
Their achievements in the past year have been:
28,500 Emergency boxes – basic food support in crisis situations.
2,038 Welcome Home boxes – low and no cook food for those leaving hospital, care or prison.
11,316 Christmas dinners and food boxes to support households during the festive season
806 Toiletry packs to provide basic hygiene products.
£744k of food distributed (est) – approximately 346k meals.
As far as they know they are the largest local food charity who solely operate in the North East, but cover the whole region. They also don’t know of another similar charity nationally and they are often approached from other parts of the country to find out about our innovative approach. Their Christmas matching is now a loved part of Christmas for many who give and receive.
Their position has always been in the gaps where there is little other provision and so now, they are striving to provide an out of hours service when food banks are closed on evenings and weekends. They are also setting up an intensive food support programme to take professional referrals for six weeks while other interventions take place. This means that anyone who will be in difficulties for a period of time know they will be supported while other measures can be put in place.
While the sadness of food poverty continues, Feeding Families is a beacon of light and positivity lighting the whole of the region and is impacting thousands of lives.
Quote from Erin Crow, recipient…
“Feeding Families has really helped me throughout the last year to deal with the loss of my Mam. I don’t know what I would have done without them. They went above and beyond. I am so thankful. We got a hamper with a full dinner, so I did not have to pay for anything over Christmas. It was nice of them. They have given me and the kids so much.
I really appreciate everything they have done. I hope they can get all the support they need, and I will help any way I can. With what is going on at the minute people are having to decide between heating their house and feeding their kids. People should not be having to make decisions like this.”
feedingfamilies.org.uk