Food banks in Caerphilly County Borough

More and more people are finding themselves in hardship due to increasing food prices, energy prices and freezes on pay meaning they struggle to provide adequate meals to support their family. People are finding themselves needing to turn to food banks.

Food banks have been set up throughout the UK to help those families in need and the number of people benefiting from emergency food has increased year on year with 280,000 being fed in 2012 compared to 128,000 in 2011. In April 2014 Trussell reported that they had handed out 913,000 food parcels in the last year, up from 347,000 the year before. Trussell Trust said it had issued more than 500,000 food parcels in the six months lead up to November 2016.

Back in April 2013 we reported on some leading supermarkets joining forces to help with emergency food parcels where the Caerphilly Town Centre Management team has helped to co-ordinate the collection and distribution to the Food Banks.

Each food bank operates their own system. Most food banks need a referral or food bank voucher from an advice agency. Typically you cannot just show up and food is usually available for a time-limited basis only. To get a food bank voucher contact one of the advice agencies (like Citizens Advice) or telephone or speak to a customer service adviser.