The Hucclecote Foodbank Centre, based at St Philip and St James Church, is part of the Gloucester Foodbank which is a Christian based charity supported by The Trussell Trust.

It is open every Wednesday 11am to 1pm for collection of food parcels and is staffed by a friendly team of volunteers from St Philip and St James, Hillview Evangelical and Hucclecote Methodist Churches.

Hucclecote Foodbank Centre provides compassion, support and emergency provisions for people  in crisis who are struggling to afford essentials such as food, toiletries and cleaning items. To get help from the Foodbank a referral voucher is required from a community organisation such as a GP practice, Citizens Advice, GL Communities or a church, all of whom can assess individual specific needs and provide appropriate support. At the Foodbank the volunteers use the voucher in conjunction with a food allocation form to ensure that the food parcel will be suitable, taking into consideration the number of adults and children it needs to support and any dietary requirements. If a person is unable to collect their food parcel arrangements can be made for it to be delivered.

When a person arrives at Hucclecote Foodbank Centre they are guaranteed a warm welcome and a listening ear. The volunteers can also advise on where further practical support and guidance can be obtained to help with moving out of a crisis.

Gloucester Foodbank has highlighted that the need for Foodbank provisions is increasing, and it is struggling to meet this demand. The donations currently being made are very much appreciated, but more support is required from individual donors and through local and national business partnerships.

Working with Foodbank is a great way for businesses to support and promote their company’s objectives whilst helping Foodbank to achieving its overall aim to ‘combat poverty and hunger across the UK’.

Donations for Foodbank can be made at the foodbank warehouse on Great Western Road and are also collected by supermarkets, schools and churches. Many of these schools and churches are currently celebrating harvest festival, and they are being asked to focus on donating a designated product, to help the Foodbank to address their urgent need for certain stock items.

St Philip and St James Church has been nominated as the ‘custard champion’ and we are hoping to have a mountain of ready-made custard (in cartons and tins) at our Harvest Festival Services!