Food bank gets a helping hand

A North East food bank is set to expand its community support with new funding.

Wansbeck Valley Food Bank, serving Ashington, Newbiggin, Ellington, Lynemouth, Bedlington and Morpeth in Northumberland, helps people in need through referrals from more than 200 local care professionals and agencies. 

Alongside emergency food parcels, it supports people facing homelessness by providing essential equipment, including tents, sleeping bags and cutlery. 

In 2024, Wansbeck Valley Food Bank distributed more than 49,200 meals, helping nearly 6000 adults and over 2300 children, with referrals continuing to grow this year.

A £1900 grant from The Banks Group’s Banks Community Fund has enabled the food bank to refresh their supplies, ensuring they meet the specific needs of individuals. 

Headquartered in Morpeth, the food bank relies on more than 60 volunteers and a combination of donations from local churches, schools and community groups, as well as bulk purchases to maintain stock.

Karina Henery, funding and finance officer at the Wansbeck Valley Food Bank, said: “We’re seeing demand for our help continuing to grow right across our area, including from families who’re struggling to make ends meet even though both parents are working, and we often see problems like food insecurity and homelessness going hand-in-hand.

“It takes an individualised approach to help each person address the different aspects of their situation as they make progress towards a more stable way of life and providing access to the sorts of basic items that most of us take for granted is a key part of this.

“We track the impact of the work we do very carefully and can see a clear link between our project and reduced food poverty and homelessness outcomes, so we know that it’s an approach that works.

“There’s a great deal of gratitude from the people receiving this equipment, as well as recognition that it’s helping to bring at least a degree of stability to what can be chaotic situations, and we’re really grateful to the Banks Group for their help in ensuring we can be there to provide practical assistance to those that need it.”

Jamilah Hassan, community manager at The Banks Group, added: “The Wansbeck Valley Food Bank are making a massive difference to their local communities on a daily basis.

“We’re very pleased to be supporting their wholehearted commitment to doing everything they can to meet the growing demand that they’re facing.”

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