Information about Emergency Food for People in Crisis, living in South Wiltshire

Foodie Network Information about Emergency Food for People in Crisis, living in the South of the County

Wiltshire Parent Carer Council July 2022

With the cost-of-living crisis affecting the most vulnerable in society, many residents are feeling an added pressure to ensure enough food is available for themselves and for their families.

Food charities and community organisations in Salisbury have joined forces to establish a new local food network to offer additional provision to residents of Salisbury that are in most need of support.

Salisbury Foodbank, The Pantry Partnership CIC, Harnham Harvest Table, Salisbury City Council's The Pantry and Wiltshire Council have created the Foodie Network and are committed to supporting residents in Salisbury and the surrounding areas who need help to put a meal on their table, including low-income families, those living in isolation, older people and carers.

Read on to find details of organisations in and around Salisbury who can help.

Salisbury Foodbank info@salisbury.foodbank.org.uk Telephone: 01722 580173

The Foodbank believe that anyone in the community should not have to face going hungry.

The charity provides three days of nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred in crisis, as well as signposting for support to other local organisations in Salisbury. The Foodbank is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK. Foodbank parcels are usually only given to people who have received a voucher from one of their voucher holders. Voucher holders include GPs, schools, Job Centre Plus and local charities, such as the Salisbury Trust for the Homeless and Alabaré. Once a resident receives a voucher, they can attend one of the local Foodbank centres and will be issued with a food parcel based on the number of people in the household. More information at https://salisbury.foodbank.org.uk/.

The Pantry salisburypantry@salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk Salisbury Pantry is a social supermarket, offering affordable and nutritious food to local residents. Membership is open to any residents from the Salisbury City Parish area who are struggling to pay bills. For a weekly membership of £5.00, members will be able to choose from a selection of food with the average value of £20-£25 to help top up a weekly shop.

A variety of food is stocked, including fresh fruit and vegetables, store cupboard favourites, bread and some fridge and freezer products, which can vary from week to week depending on availability. As well as a place to shop and choose food at a low cost, it is also a place where people can ask for advice and be signposted to other sources of support.

The Pantry Partnership info@thepantrypartnership.org 01722 632455 The Pantry Partnership is a social enterprise working in and around Salisbury. Surplus food is rescued that would otherwise go to waste, making it into meals and delivered to those who need it in our community. They aim to fight food waste, tackle hunger and loneliness in Salisbury, whilst supporting the community with assisted volunteering opportunities.

Harnham Community Network harnhamcommunity@gmail.com 07962 213494 Harnham Community Network is about helping foster the sense of community in Harnham from the Hub at the Parish Hall on Lower Street, as well as offering practical help. A Coffee and Chat session is hosted in the Hall and field every Saturday morning from 10am 12noon.

The Harvest Sharing Tables will start again over the summer on Saturdays from 16th July ‘till the latter part of September. People are invited to bring along their surplus garden produce so others can take what they need. It means good food doesn't go to waste and it helps provide fresh nutritious food for free.

St Michaels Community Fridge Telephone: 01722 328031 The Community Fridge at St Michael's Community Centre in Bemerton Heath is available to serve the needs of anybody who requires food. The food is free at the point of need as the fridge relies solely on donations from local supermarkets and organisations. The fridge is open every Monday to Friday 10am to 2.30pm. If they can, people are also welcome to support the Community Fridge, by making a donation of any fresh vegetables, or food it may require.

ENCIRCLES hello@encircles.org ENCIRCLES is a registered charity established in April 2019 and the mission through their volunteers is to alleviate homelessness, loneliness, isolation and poverty in Salisbury.

ENCIRCLES deliver food related programmes, including, The Evening Food Distribution programme at Salisbury Coach Park, Monday to Saturday at 7pm, providing the street homeless and anyone else in need, with hot food, sandwiches and pastries, and the preparation and distribution of a Sunday roast takeaway meal, and a supper bag full of sandwiches and cakes at Salisbury Coach Park at 1pm. All the food is donated to ENCIRCLES and it is run entirely by volunteers.

If you are able to support any of these organisations by donating food, we are sure they would love to hear from you.