Getting Help

If you are experiencing difficulties with the cost of living, your finances, or for other reasons, we can help you with food and household items. The Foodbank has a range of items to choose from, and we try to meet your needs.

Our service is for people living throughout the Rea Valley including Hanwood, Pontesbury, Minsterley, Hope, Worthen, White Grit, Bentlawnt, Yockleton, Westbury, Habberley, Snailbeach, Stiperstones and Brockton.

How to use our service

You can contact us yourself, on behalf of someone else, or be referred.

• Get referred by your local clergy, GP, school, nursery, social/health worker, housing provider or other support agency.

  Referring agencies please complete and submit the Referral Form

• Contacting us yourself, or on behalf of someone else, call and have a chat with:

  Reverend Greg Smith 07902 794653 or Reverend Richard Lonsdale 07922 830488
  Email reavalleyfoodbank@gmail.com

After you have contacted us, or a Referral has been received, come along to your first visit

When you arrive, we’ll welcome you with a warm drink, and our volunteer will have a chat and ask a few questions about your situation. We may also be able to provide contact information for other services that can help. You can then choose the items you need to help see you through the week.

Please assist us by bringing your own bag(s).

You may come to the Foodbank just once, or every week if you need to.

Please let us know if your circumstances change, and you no longer need our help. Over time we may need to review the service we provide for you – see below.

Deliveries

By agreement we can deliver to people that are housebound and in financial difficulties. Deliveries are usually made on a Thursday. To help us provide you with the best service, we’ll ask a few questions about you, and any family members.

Please do inform us in advance if you won’t be in when we call. We may review the service to you, please see below.

Emergency needs

In an emergency, the Foodbank can provide a week’s worth of groceries. For this, you can contact:

Reverend Greg Smith 07902 794653 or Reverend Richard Lonsdale 07922 830488

Email reavalleyfoodbank@gmail.com

Alternatively, just come along when the Foodbank is open. We will always try to provide help in an emergency.

Reviewing our service to you

Please do keep us up to date if there are changes in your health, your finances, the benefits you receive, or your living arrangements. We don’t put a limit on how many times you can come, and trust that you will respect our service. Over time, we may have a chat, to help ensure that coming to the food bank is working well for you

Decision making

The Foodbank is run by volunteers. To sustain our service, we totally rely on donations of money, food and other items given by local people, and the fundraising efforts of community groups in the Rea Valley.

A limit is put on the number of high-cost items, such as tinned meat and washing powder, that can be taken. We make the decisions about how the food bank is run and are always willing to listen to any concerns you may have. The food bank has a committee of volunteers, and you can contact them if you have any questions.

We do not tolerate abusive, violent, aggressive or disruptive behaviour, whether directed towards our volunteers or other clients. Anyone who is abusive may be excluded from the Foodbank, temporarily or permanently.