New Year message: Project Manager shares here our hopes for 2026

We may be a little late to the New Year messages, but our Project Manager shares here our hopes for 2026:

‘Our charity is called Norwich Foodbank but we do so much more than food. While many other charities, businesses and people hope that their client numbers increases, our prayer is that the need for our services DECREASE – and we are delighted to say this has been the case during 2025.

We are part of the Trussell network of Foodbanks and work on a referral model so the emergency food parcel goes alongside help, support and advice from an agency or professional who, with the engagement of the person or household in need, can address the causes for the crisis and the need for our help.

In 2025, we provided emergency food to just over 10,800 people – a huge number BUT a 17% decrease DECREASE on 2024.

We work with over 240 referral agencies and during 2025, we had 8 different agencies represented regularly within our 11 distribution centres to give in-person advice, help, onward referrals and – most importantly – a listening ear – to those who come for our help. We know from feedback that having consistency and being available in-person makes a huge difference to those needing support and that this makes it both easier and more likely that they seek that help.

We have regular meetings with our in-centre Partners to discuss new or changing services, share what is and isn’t working as we try and help people to no longer need the Foodbank and ensure that while operating a ‘no wrong door approach’, the person is central to the support needed and the team utilises their skills and expertise to help at the right time, make warm handovers and step back when appropriate.

If we continue to see a decrease in the number of people coming to us in 2026, we will be thrilled – but we won’t stop working with our Partners and people with lived experience of our collective services until that number is much MUCH lower.

Over 10,000 people in 2025 is still a huge number and without the generosity from the general public through food and financial donations, we would not be able to offer the support to those in crisis. Together we want to end the need for Foodbanks.

I wish to thank my Norwich Foodbank team, volunteers, all our referrers, and all our supporters. It is truly a joint effort and look forward to working together throughout this year.’

Hannah

Project Manager