Together We Thrive, A Decade of Dedication: A Legacy of Growth, A Future of Hope.

Bow Foodbank was founded in 2014 by a group of neighbours who spotted a short-term need in their community. No one expected it to still exist 10 years later, but the need is increasing. 

Pre-pandemic we supported 100 households each week. We currently support around 350 per week in our first home of our own that we moved to in August 2024.

In the first six months of 2023, our team delivered as many food bags as we did in the whole of 2022.

Between September 2022 and September 2023, the number of visitors increased from 400 every week to 870, and food cost us 20% more. Approximately 400 community volunteers and 600 within our corporate partner programme support our small team annually.

What services does Bow Foodbank provide?

People come to us for food but often have additional needs, such as ill health and unstable employment, so we’ve invested in training our incredible volunteers to help guests become more financially resilient. 

Last year, we made over 600 referrals for legal aid, mental health, and income maximisation. We take a holistic view and bring together community solutions to help with things like vitamins, dental care and pharmacy costs. So they leave feeling valued by their neighbours as our new neighbours on the Roman Road provide many services. The funding will expand and secure this service for guests at our new location.

We know that training our volunteers for a year usually costs £14,000, in our new location we have more shifts, and services and need more qualified volunteers able to cover shifts throughout the week. This funding will support with safeguarding, triage, Health and Safety, Supervision and staffing to help make the magic happen.

We’d also like to train small teams to support other audiences with specific needs, such as care leavers and those at risk of homelessness. Upcoming policy changes mean we need to keep volunteer training up to date, ready for changes in benefits, etc.  

People come to the foodbank when they have exhausted their options and are in crisis. Many have been forced to choose between food and other basic needs like heating. We offer a nonjudgemental space of dignity and respect where every household can access food. 

What outcomes could be achieved with this funding?

Our holistic approach, grounded in the community, is vital for people experiencing food insecurity in Tower Hamlets. In 23/24:  

• Everyone who came to us for food aid received food.  
• We distributed around £900,000 worth of food to approximately 28,000 adults and children, including approximately 6,500 families and 9,000 children.  
• Our guests told us that receiving food helped to create breathing space in the family budget, so they must no longer choose between food and other essential items.  
• Our guests told us of the positive experiences they have had at the Foodbank.  
• Our volunteers tell us that supporting the Foodbank helps them to connect to the wider community, develop their skills, and have a positive impact.   

We are more than just a food bank, meeting the immediate needs of our guests and training our community of dedicated volunteers opens up conversations regarding other support they need to improve their resilience in the long term. 

5% of our guests can take up additional support at present - we want to increase it to 20%  to support with things like:

• Microgrants
• Debt cancellation
• Preventing evictions
• Increase benefits
• Access to training & work
• Finding accommodation

What about your stretch target?

In 2023 we supported over 600 people over the age of 65, and we project that this figure will rise significantly for 2024. This group has become more vulnerable due to rises in the cost of rents, fuel and food. In the summer of 2023, we saw around 17 pensioners weekly, by October 2023, this number had risen to 88. Since changes to winter fuel payments, the number of pensioners we see weekly rose from 10% to 17% of our guests, and it is still increasing. We will spend additional money on food to support these guests in winter.