Newark Foodbank handed out 17 tonnes of supplies in a year

A charity that provides emergency food relief handed out just over 17 tonnes of supplies in 12 months.

Newark Foodbank, based at Barnbygate Methodist Church and supported as part of a nationwide network by The Trussell Trust, provides three days of emergency food to those who find themselves in crisis.

The service has been operating for four years, serves people from the Newark and Tuxford areas and is staffed by a team of about 60 volunteers and five trustees.

People in need are given a voucher from frontline agencies, such as social services and GPs, and charities, including Framework or Newark Women’s Aid, that can be taken to the foodbank and exchanged for supplies.

From April last year to March this year, it collected 15.9 tonnes of food in donations and distributed just over 17.1 tonnes, which included some surplus stock from its warehouse. In 2015/16, it collected 22.1 tonnes and distributed 23.5 tonnes.

From April 2016 to March 2017, the number of people claiming three days of emergency food relief was 1,968, made up of 1,310 adults and 658 children, which was a decrease of 18% on the previous year.

But the number of people using the foodbank more often (redeeming more than three vouchers over a six-month period) increased from 9% to 29%.

Mr Steve Charnock, head of trustees at Newark Foodbank, said: “We have a low unemployment rate in Newark and I think it would be fair to say that the low unemployment rate is demonstrated in terms of the number who actually use Newark Foodbank.

“Compared with other towns of a similar size, those that have a higher unemployment rate have more people using the foodbank.

“The majority of people who are still using foodbanks are those who are in receipt of benefits and are experiencing difficulties with benefit changes or benefit delays, some of whom are going through the system for the first time.

“We have a large proportion of people on low income and who can cope on a more general basis but find themselves in the odd emergency, like when they get an unexpected bill for a boiler repair, which takes away the money they would normally have to spend on food or rent.”

'We provide the means of getting over an emergency or crisis'

Mr Charnock said a vital part of the foodbank’s role was to provide support for those in need.

He said: “The most important thing from our point of view is to keep a roof over your head.

“There are certain things you really need to do and paying your rent is one of them.

“There are foodbanks around but if you lose the roof over your head then it’s a much more difficult problem to cope with.

“We are not here to provide a weekly grocery service — we provide the means of getting over an emergency or crisis.”

Mr Charnock said the foodbank continued to bring in a large amount of food, which meant it could provide food to anyone who needed assistance.

He said the foodbank would like to combine its front-of-house operation, which is at Barnbygate Methodist Church, with its warehouse and appealed to anyone who might be able to lease out a unit.

Anyone who can help, or who is interested in volunteering with the foodbank, should email info@newark.foodbank.org.uk

- The foodbank will be doing its first targeted collection at a supermarket for three years on Saturday, July 15, from 10am to 3pm.

Its volunteers will be at Asda, Newark, handing out lists of items needed in the hope that shoppers will donate them.