About
Bicester Foodbank
Here is an introduction to our project.
Bicester Foodbank was founded by the wonderful Janet Ray in December 2006 until June 2021. Janet was awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her dedicated work to the foodbank and fundraising efforts. During this time Janet raised a staggering quarter of a million pounds as the principle fundraiser.
In December 2020, Bicester Foodbank moved to our current location at The Beacon on Wesley Lane.
Emma Salisbury was appointed manager in December 2021.
The Community Cafe was launched and officially opened on Friday 21st October 2022.
The Foodbank Network – Trussell Trust
Our foodbank is part of The Trussell Trust’s network of 428 foodbanks, working to tackle food poverty and hunger in our local communities, as well as across the UK.
The Foodbank Network was founded in 2004 after four years of developing the original foodbank based in Salisbury. Since then The Trussell Trust has helped communities work together to launch foodbanks nationwide in a wide range of towns and cities.
In 2022/23, food banks in the Trussell Trust’s network provided 2,986,203 three-day emergency food supplies and support to UK people in crisis. Of these, 1,139,553 were distributed for children.
As a network, we want to see more people helped out of crisis and fewer people needing foodbanks in the future. That’s why The Trussell Trust and local foodbanks are working together to develop new ways to help people out of crisis through programmes like More Than Food.
To find out more about The Trussell Trust visit www.trusselltrust.org.
How Foodbanks Work
Every day people in the UK go hungry for reasons ranging from redundancy to receiving an unexpected bill on a low income. A simple box of food makes a big difference, with foodbanks helping prevent crime, housing loss, family breakdown and mental health problems.
Food is donated
Schools, churches, businesses and individuals donate non-perishable, in-date food to a foodbank. Large collections often take place as part of Harvest Festival celebrations and food is also collected at supermarkets.
Food is sorted and stored
Volunteers sort food to check that it’s in date and pack it into boxes ready to be given to people in need. Over 40,000 people give up their time to volunteer at foodbanks.
Professionals identify people in need
Foodbanks partner with a wide range of care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers and police to identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher.
Clients received food
Foodbank clients bring their voucher to a foodbank centre where it can be redeemed for three days’ emergency food. Volunteers meet clients over a warm drink or free hot meal and are able to signpost people to agencies able to solve the longer-term problem.