Latest news 25th July 2020
In line with the change in government requirements for shops (although this is not mandatory for foodbank distribution) from next Monday 27th July Aston & Nechells Foodbank will be encouraging all those who attend any of our Monday, Wednesday or Friday distribution sessions to wear a face covering.
We shall have a small stock of disposable masks that will be offered to clients on arrival if they do not have a face covering. We ask that those issuing vouchers encourage your clients and any of your workers who might come on their behalf to come with face coverings for use while they are attending to collect emergency food parcels.
If anyone cannot wear a face covering we shall respect this. They will still be able to collect their parcel in the same way as we have run the sessions throughout the covid crisis. Everyone maintains social distancing and use of sanitizer in order to keep clients and our volunteers as safe as we can.
Some agencies are still able to issue Foodbank vouchers in person, but if this is not possible then please be aware that Birmingham settlement continue to provide telephone help for those who need to access a Foodbank voucher. You can call the Birmingham Settlement telephone money advice service on 0121 250 0765.
Leave your name and contact details on their voicemail. They will ring you back. They can give advice on a wide range of monetary problems. Over the phone they can issue you with a code that can be redeemed as a voucher at any of the Trussell Trussell Foodbank distribution centres in Birmingham. Details of the Aston and Nechells locations can be found here
Thank you for the large number of donations that have been made recently to support the running costs of Aston and Nechells Foodbank. There have been some very generous donations from individuals, groups, churches and local businesses.
Staff from Amey have volunteered with Aston and Nechells Foodbank over the last couple of years. Amey staff across the UK along with colleagues at their Spanish parent company, Ferrovial, have contributed to a fund for communities affected by COVID-19. We have recently received a generous donation from the appeal fund and are very grateful for this.
We would like to thank other local businesses who have made donations of money and food items during the COVID-19 outbreak, and helped us with transport. These include Tesco, Asda, Crucial Sauces, B&M, The Lounge at Boldmere, British Gas, Salts, and others.
Large or small, every single donation is amazing and will make a difference – thank you so much!
We cannot thank everyone personally but would like to say a massive thanks for this support. This much needed at a time when demand has increased significantly at the Foodbank, and food donations have dropped so we are having to buy in more items.
This level of generosity is very good news and will help keep us going for a while. The cost of running the Foodbank remains much higher than normal so we would still appreciate donations if anyone is able, via our Just Giving site: https://www.justgiving.com/cando413
Please read below for previous updates:
We continue to distribute food on Mondays (St Matthews Nechells) and Fridays (Salvation Army Aston). We are now able to re-start distribution in Ward End starting today, Wednesday 22nd April 2020.
Please note the slight change of address (opposite side of the road to The Unity Hubb):
Time: 13:00 – 15:00
Address: Ward End Elim Church, St Margaret’s Road, Ward End, B8 2BA
Distribution will be streamlined to meet safe distancing requirements to support both volunteers and clients alike.
We are continuing to use the existing red voucher and e-referral voucher systems.
If clients cannot obtain a voucher they are asked to contact Birmingham Settlement on 0121 250 0765 or 0121 250 0777. Birmingham Settlement will issue a code voucher that clients can bring together with ID to any of our sessions.
We remain committed to helping those who cannot afford to buy food. We are sign posting those who cannot come out to obtain food to other partner agencies.
We are very grateful for all the support received from so many partners.
We have 2 crucial needs
1. Please continue to bring long life food donations to our distribution sessions or our warehouse session at St Matthews Church Centre every Tuesday between 10.00 – 12.30.
2. To enable us to keep purchasing the foodlines we need because of the current reductions in food donations please make a cash donation via our Just Giving site
Thank you for the ongoing support which has been amazing. We have produced a report on some of the companies and organisations that are helping us at this very difficult time. The report can be downloaded here.
Older updates:
The Foodbank can only provide emergency food parcels to people who are referred from voucher holding partner agencies. We are giving emergency food support to those people who cannot afford to buy their own food.
We are not able to deliver parcels to those affected by the Covid 19 virus movement restrictions that cannot leave their homes, nor to people who cannot find anywhere to buy the food items they need.
Please note that as of the 26 March 2020. Birmingham City Council have announced the link for applying for a range of assistance including home deliveries of food if people are in the most vulnerable at risk category. Go to gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable. This may be used to request support for yourself if, because of coronavirus restrictions, you are unable to access essential supplies. It may also be used to request support for someone else that you know.
To protect our volunteer staff there will be a queueing system outside the Foodbank. Please keep the recommended social distancing in the queue.
Existing Foodbank partners, where open, will be able to provide vouchers. If you do not know where to go to obtain a red Trussell Trust food voucher please contact either of the following telephone money / debt advice services.
Citizens Advice Bureau 03444 771010
or
Birmingham Settlement Free Money Advice 0121 250 0765.
Alternatively go to
Free@Last, 49 Nechells Park Road, B7 5PR
or
The AK Centre 68 Alum Rock Road, B8 1JA
For anyone who is able to donate food –
The greatest need is currently for more donations of small packs of rice, coffee, jam, tinned meat, tinned tomatoes, tinned fruit, tinned fish and long life UHT milk. We also need toilet rolls, deodorants, razors and shampoos.
Any donations of these or other long-life foods will be much appreciated at this challenging time. Please bring donations to either the Monday or Friday distribution sessions or to the warehouse at St Matthews Church Centre, 63 Wardlow Rd, Nechells B7 4JH on Tuesdays between 10.00 -12.00. We are sorry but we do not have the capacity to collect donations.
You could also consider making an online cash donation as this can be used to support the running costs of the Foodbank and to purchase the food that is most needed. In addition your donation can be gift aided. You can do so at the following page: https://www.justgiving.com/cando413. For information on other ways to make a donation please follow this link: Donate money
Thanks go to everyone for the generous continuing support of the Foodbank. In the last 12 months we have helped 4,100 people including 1,600 children. Please continue to support us throughout the crisis and beyond. The needs in our part of Birmingham show no sign of reducing.