Food bank supporting people struggling with food insecurity

The Pitch

Problem statement

The ongoing Cost-of-Living crisis has created pressure on households to afford bills, food and other necessities. People from low-income households are more negatively impacted by the increasing prices, and 75% of the bottom 20% of low income households have gone without essentials. Since November 2022, there has been an increase of 40% in the use of food banks in the UK, due to one in five people now living in relative poverty. Furthermore, wages are not increasing to meet rising costs and there are increasing numbers of employed people having to rely on food banks. Overall, pressures on food banks across the UK are continuing, and more people are struggling with food insecurity.

Solution

Our established food bank has been providing food parcels to deprived and marginalised young people and families across South Gloucestershire and Bristol since August 2022. Since then, we have had over 1200 visits, and have people relying on the food bank every week to feed themselves and their families. Funding for this project would go towards paying our yearly Fareshare subscription, which ensures we have a substantial amount of food to stock our food bank every week with cupboard items and fresh food and provide our beneficiaries with essential food and toiletries. This helps alleviate food insecurity and reduce the pressures associated with food insecurity.

Why are we best placed to deliver?

Ignite Life has been providing emergency food support to young people and families across Bristol and South Gloucestershire since the Covid pandemic. Since then, we have been able to support more people, and through our food bank, we can provide other support to people accessing the food bank and signpost them to other resources they may require. For example, we have linked up with local domestic abuse and homeless charities who have referred their beneficiaries to us for support. Our strong community connections mean we can provide support to people deemed hard to reach, and who otherwise would slip through the gap. This helps us reach a large number of people and ensure they are supported.

Focus Areas

Delivery plan

Budget breakdown

Beneficiaries

1,200 people

Expected impact

Funding for our food bank will ensure we can continue providing vital food parcels to people struggling with food insecurity. At least 200 people per week will be supported with food parcels, and have sufficient food to feed themselves and their families. The people accessing the food bank will also receive support from our volunteers, and be signposted to other areas of support they require. For example, our mentoring and counselling service. Beneficiaries accessing our food bank have reduced stresses associated with food insecurity, sufficient food parcels for themselves and their families, and improved health and wellbeing due to having nutritious and fulfilling food.

Track record

Young people and families we have supported have all exclaimed their gratitude towards Ignite for helping them through difficult times and providing them with food support. One beneficiary said: "It (food parcel) was really helpful and helped us out with food at a really stressful time".