Food banks, a relative unknown until a decade ago, are now a necessary support for thousands around the United Kingdom. According to Trussell Trust statistics, in 2010-2011 61,467 people used their food banks compared to 2,568,597 in 2020-2021. The rise in the need for food support has meant there are now more food banks in the UK than McDonalds, with this figure set to widen as the cost of living crisis starts to impact more British families.
With this increase in need, new organisations have begun forming to help meet the demand. One such group is Food4Thought, formed in 2020 from the initial Covid Community Response in partnership with Derby City Council, Community Action Derby & the Food Forum Steering Group.
Led by Paul Brookhouse and Deborah Jones, the group provides emergency food parcels for urgent cases as well as tailored support packages for users so that the root causes of food poverty can be addressed. The group lists 15 community groups as their partners and has a focus on building community links within the project.
Food4Thought looks to have a more nurturing approach to their work. The group have set up several Community shops around the city where users are allowed a free choice of items in the food bank and can pay using virtual currency. This is so beneficial as it gives users a choice of items, allows them to understand budgeting and crucially, takes away the personal stigma of receiving food bank parcels.
In recent months, Food4Thought has been forced to look at their ways of working as they respond to the cost of living crisis which has seen a 25% increase in demand. The pressure of more food parcels is only heightened by an increase in food prices which saw them spend £15,000 on fresh fruit and vegetables in the past year. Fresh food shortages have increased as they can’t be donated by the public.
In response, Food4Thought have decided to open an allotment to grow their own produce to help lower the costs. Working in partnership with St Martin’s school and Horizons Six Form College, Food4Thought have recently secured a plot on the Wilmorton Gardens Allotment which is currently under the management of YMCA Derbyshire.
Food4Thought have spent the start of 2023 clearing the plot and are now in the design process which will be done by Horizons Six Form College students. Currently. the group is looking for funding/donations for the project and has sent out a call for local volunteers.
Although still in its early stages, Deborah Jones believes the project has real potential to not only reduce costs but also provide the community a useful resource. Speaking on the project she said:
“With the rise in the cost of food, we are struggling to fund and provide our foodbank partners with fresh produce and thought that we could save some of this money and start a great community project. I hope by this time next year we can have the allotment blooming and can provide our community partners with more fresh food.”
For now, it is all about getting the groundwork and structures in place so that the allotment can be a success. To help in the process, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust have offered their support with plans for a wildlife area on the plot and will help the Food4Thought team with organising the community around the project.
For anyone who would like to find out more about the project or any other interesting Derby city initiatives feel free to contact Adam by email: adamdosunmuslater@derbyshirewt.co.uk.
Or if you want to know more about our Next-door nature initiative visit our webpage.
