A thank you to those who provided support to Bradford North Foodbank and a brief update on what we achieved in the year to 31 March 2022.
We had another challenging year with the continued closure of our foodbank centre cafes (although these were able to re-open in late March) and consistently high numbers of referrals through late 2021 continuing through the first three months of 2022, ending in over 5,000 people fed for the second year running.
We distributed over 42 tonnes of food direct to clients alongside another 25 tonnes to other local projects who support people in similar ways, or particular vulnerable groups. Some of this was in the form of food swaps, receiving needed items in return of our surplus stock.
Across the country, Trussell Trust foodbanks fed over 2 million people for the third year in a row.
Regular support of the foodbank with people’s time, energy, money, food donations and effort is what helps us to continue to do what we are doing – there are 70+ people who work with us on a regular basis, countless food donors either directly or through our supermarket and church collection points as well as our 100+ regular financial donors and many more who give on a one-off basis:
To all our Donors: **You are stars**
The foodbank has been blessed with a number of large one-off financial donations in the past two years, meaning we could temporarily increase the hours of our two paid staff and invest in better technology at our foodbank centres and warehouse.
We have just started an exciting Financial Inclusion Project, grant funded by Trussell Trust. This will see qualified, experienced advisors from Bradford charity Equality Together based in our foodbank centres offering more specialised, tailored advice to clients to help them maximise their income and deal with other problems preventing them from living a full life.
We’re partnering with Bradford Central and Wyke foodbanks in delivering this project, meaning the same great support will be delivered across the much of of the Bradford district and in Aireborough (Leeds).
If you would like any further information on the ongoing work of the foodbank, please contact our Treasurer – Pete Criddle, ([email protected]).
Please also contact Pete if you like to join our 200 Club of regular financial supporters giving anything from £2 a month, or if you have donated in the past and are able to Gift Aid your donation.
On behalf of our trustees and those who benefit from our work, thank you once again.