South Warwickshire foodbank marks decade of putting food on tables
ARDEN Foodbank held a lunch at Great Alne last week to mark its tenth anniversary – but manager Susan Kinnersley was quick to point out that it was not a celebration.
In its first year of operating, Arden Foodbank fed a total of 212 adults and children from the Alcester and Studley distribution centres. Ten years later the number has soared to 2,337 in the last year. From 2013 to 2023 the foodbank has provided food for 5,331 people, which adds up to a massive 69,500kg of food handed out in emergency food parcels.
Mrs Kinnersley thinks its “dreadful” that foodbanks need to exist in this country, one of the most prosperous nations in the world.
When she set up the food bank – which operates from the Methodist Churches of Alcester and Studley on Tuesdays and Fridays from 2pm to 3.30pm – she didn’t believe it would still be needed after ten years.
“We’re very upset that we’re still here because really we shouldn’t be,” said Mrs Kinnersley. “I think it’s dreadful. I don’t remember it being like this when I was working in the East End of London in the 1960s.”
She believes the current poverty crisis has been partly triggered by rents being a far higher proportion of income than they were in the past. “We also have higher standards for things like central heating in homes,” she said. “It costs – and people get used to it. Also I think it’s because families are scattered.”
What had prompted her to start the foodbank in the first place was when she discovered that children - in another part of the country – were going without breakfast. She decided to ease the effects of deprivation closer to home.
Mrs Kinnersley said: “We have seen many changes over the past ten years. The Arden Foodbank moved from its original venues to more suitable spaces, with cupboards and shelves built by our volunteer handymen to accommodate the increased stock.
“The pandemic meant that many volunteers had to resign, and were replaced by other enthusiastic volunteers. During lockdown we had to minimise ‘tea and support’ but continued to give out parcels to those in need as demand increased. Now numbers are increasing again, tea can be served, signposting has improved and our volunteers are coping magnificently.
“Paperwork has increased exponentially, from a simple beginning to all the demands of regulations and policies. However, there is no change in the dedication of the volunteers and the generosity of donors. How fortunate we are to be able to help others, yet how sad we are that after all this time the foodbank is still needed. We will continue to be here until no one has to face going hungry in the UK.”
Last week’s lunch was a thank-you to the foodbank’s staff, some of whom have been volunteering for the entire ten years.
Cllr Mark Cargill, retiring chairman of Stratford District Council and chairman of the Alcester Health & Wellbeing Partnership, added: “In the ten years the Arden Foodbank has been operating, we have not seen that reduction in need. If anything the war in Ukraine and the cost of living crisis have increased demand.”
On behalf of the residents of Alcester, Studley and the surrounding areas, he wished to extend his sincere thanks to the volunteers for all their hard work.
Arden Foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust’s network of 428 foodbanks across the UK. The network was founded in 2004. In 2021-22, the network provided 2,173,158 three-day emergency supplies and support UK people in crisis. Of these, 832,109 went to children.