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Referrers Information Page
This page is for professionals who would like more information or a recap on our policies and structure. We will also add any updates, petition's and sign-ups here as well as via email.
The e-vouchers are created by you and passed to the client to ‘fulfil’ by collecting a parcel. Please give the client the code (Exxxxx-xxxxxx) either by text / email or ask them to write it down or, if this isn’t possible, when creating the voucher there is an option to print and give them a hard copy to bring with them. Please do check on clients whose voucher is showing as unfulfilled/not collected.
The E-referral database is a nationwide database for all Trussell Foodbanks. The following information is for us at Norwich Foodbank. We cover Norwich, Wymondham, Wroxham, Poringland and Loddon. Please see the Trussell’s Find A Foodbank for the other Norfolk Foodbanks; North Norfolk, Mid Norfolk, Kings Lynn, Hunstanton, Downham Market, Thetford, Waveney, Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth.
Please do not share log in details – if colleagues need to issue vouchers as well as you, please ask them to email me so I have their details.
A few things to repeat and remember please:
- Dependents.
Please only include DEPENDENTS. We are receiving a lot of vouchers for multiple adults and while some are the client’s children, if they are an adult, they are likely to have their own income and therefore not dependent and not for us to include. We need to ensure if they are also in need of support, that they are receiving it.
- Parcel collection.
Foodbank vouchers are issued to clients in an emergency food poverty situation and therefore are to be redeemed within 7 days of issuing.
Norwich Foodbank has a zero tolerance policy for abuse. If your client is known to be aggressive, violent or intoxicated it is then your responsibility as the referrer to make arrangements for the food parcel to be collected safely (either someone else collects the parcel or the client is escorted by a professional).
Clients or someone on their behalf with the voucher code can collect from any of our Norwich Distribution Centres regardless of what centre was nominated when the voucher was created.The only time we ask that the voucher is collected from its nominated centre is when a special parcel needs to be made, i.e., a Vegan/Halal/No cooking facilities etc. Or if specific extras such as “size 4 nappies” are requested. All special boxes are made individually and sent to the nominated centre when possible.
There is no need to email us the code for standard parcels. However, we do need to be made aware of special dietary issues and cooking facilities and any specific extras – i.e., size nappies / baby food – so in these cases, please do let us know in advance of the collection. Please email or call us as soon as possible regarding vouchers with special requests as these do not come through to us until the next working day.
Distribution Centres:
Mondays – Witard Road Baptist Church (Heartsease) 2pm – 3.30pm.
Tuesdays – Oak Grove Community Church (Old Catton) 6pm – 7.30pm.
Oak Grove Community Café open Tuesday 6pm – 7:30 also.
Wednesdays – Chantry Hall (city behind MAP and Wagamama) 10am – 12.00pm.
Wednesdays – New Hope Christian Centre (Lakenham) 12pm – 2pm.
New Hope Community Cafe also on a Wednesday 10am – 2pm.
Thursdays – St Elizabeth’s Church (Earlham) 11am – 12.30pm.
Thursdays – Wroxham and Hoveton United Reformed Church (URC) 10.30am –12pm.
Thursdays – Mile Cross Methodist Church 1.30pm – 3pm.
Thursdays – NCBC (Colegate) 1.30pm – 3pm.
Fridays – Alive! (off Dereham Road) 10am – 12pm.
Free hot meal also available for those redeeming their voucher at Alive.
Fridays – Bowthorpe Church Centre 10:30am – 12pm.
Fridays – Wymondham Baptist Church 11am-12pm.
Saturdays – The Chantry (city behind MAP and Wagamama) 10am – 11.30am.
*At Oak Grove, New Hope and Alive!, a community cafe runs from the same site during foodbank so you are most welcome to attend with clients or just as yourselves to enjoy!
- Delivery
Norwich Foodbank does not have the capacity to deliver unless the client lives in Poringland, Loddon or Loddon’s immediate surrounding villages such as Chedgrave.
Please select ‘collection’ for all Norwich, Wroxham and Wymondham clients and other postcodes within this boundary.
We know on the Trussell Trust system, if you select ‘delivery’ the next closest Foodbank who do offer delivery (e.g., North Walsham or Mid Norfolk) will appear and allows you to select them, but these are only able to deliver to their local areas and will say so on the screen. Please do read the centre’s details when making selections.
- More than 3 vouchers
When searching for a client, if you see they have had more than 3 vouchers, please don’t just issue another but call the foodbank office 0300 365 1123 or Hannah (Project Manager) to check if further vouchers can be issued. We do not want to create any kind of dependence on our service. Also, if a client is engaged with multiple agencies, one of them might have good reason not to issue any more vouchers. We are aware and concerned that clients have played services off against another. We will look through clients’ circumstances depending on their individual circumstances to discuss options of issuing a further voucher. We want to see an end to the need for food banks so do hope you join with us in this vision and, together, we can hopefully provide long lasting support and care to those who need us.
Please view this short video which helps to explain why we want to end the need for food banks.
Thank you for your support and help and please do come back to me by email or phone with any concerns, comments or questions you or your team may have. Please do share with your colleagues and other team members.
Norwich Foodbank key principles
To receive Foodbank assistance –
- The client should be in a state of actual food poverty, having minimal food and insufficient means to purchase adequate food in the immediate term; or demonstrably be at imminent risk of being in that situation.
- The client’s situation should be the result of an identifiable, current crisis.
- The client’s circumstances should be known directly to the referring agency, or the referrer will immediately signpost to the more appropriate supporting agency.
- The client has not already received Foodbank assistance three times for the specific crisis unless arrangements for further support have been made with Norwich Foodbank
- The client is actively engaging with support, advice or help with your agency to help address their situation.
We always want to ensure the effective stewardship of Norwich Foodbank’s resources eg.public donations.