Norwich foodbank: Update 205

Hello everyone! Hope you enjoyed the bank holiday weekend / Monday and looking forward to September arriving

Financial Inclusion Evaluation Survey

A big THANK YOU to the warehouse, centres and our Partners for ensuring the Financial Inclusion Survey was accessible to all who collected a food parcel in April and May. The feedback has been analysed and foodbanks with over 30 respondents received individual feedback – and we achieved this number thank you! I have skim read the report, but we received a good number from both surveys – people who had used our Financial Inclusion partners and those who hadn’t. As you will no doubt know from bits you’ve heard and testimonies I’ve shared, the experience of getting the right support at the right time is of paramount importance in our vision to see an end to the need for foodbanks. 46% of our responses said they had gone without a meal on at least one day in the last month and 38% had gone without heating for 4 or more days in the last month because of finances. 88% of responses said they were ‘quite or very satisfied’ with how helpful the support or advice they received was and 21% of responses said they were now receiving new benefits or an increase in income due to the advice given. A thank you message from Trussell is here!

How long have you volunteered with us…?

Thank you to all those who have done this – my phone was pinging with messages so that was great! I’m including a reminder here if you are able (and haven’t done it yet):

Norwich foodbank has been operating since 2010 and I know some of you have been with us since that time or shortly afterwards. I would love to make a montage / vocal collage (?!) of clips of you saying the year you began with us, so for example ‘My name is Hannah and I’ve been with the foodbank since 2014.’ I have done this with some of you, but if you are able and willing, please send a Whatsapp voice note to my mobile 07955920590 saying simply ‘my name is * and I have been a volunteer with the foodbank since 20**’ If you are a partner – i.e. not a volunteer, please say ‘… and I have been involved with the foodbank since…’ or something similar.

Volunteering is Rewarding

I’m sure you all already know this coz you do it  Anyway, I received a lovely message (you know who you are) which I share here as a general nicety, but also as a reminder that we so often get out as much as we put in, despite our roles generally being serving others  ‘It’s hard to express what it means to be able to ‘give back’ for the advantages I have had in life compared with so many of our clients. One can’t change a fundamentally unequal society which would be the real answer, but failing that, what Foodbanks do is a safety net for so many, and to be part of it is a privilege and I am grateful. Do continue to ask if there is ever anything you think I can usefully do. I will always try to say yes!’

Food Hygiene Success

I reported a while ago about the success of Bowthorpe and Chantry during recent Food Hygiene inspections and I have just heard that Alive also had a successful rating, mainly down to great teamwork from everyone there. Well done!

Time is a Gift

I read this interesting article about ‘time’ and how each day is a new gift and I really liked the tone so sharing with you here

STORY of encouragement:

I had a FANTASTIC phone call with a now ex-foodbank client which I will share with you next time :-), Today I have a different story I had saved for this week and share that here:

‘What a truly inclusive organisation that genuinely provides support to every individual’s circumstances. I have been working with Chris [British Red Cross] for nearly 6 months now and, in that time, he has taken the role of the following for me – counsellor, secretary, debate opposition, sounding board and just generally being at the end of a text when needed. Anything he hasn’t been able to support with directly he’s signposted or referred me to. A year ago, my husband and I were homeless, in overwhelming debt, out of work and struggling with social services and court involvement. Chris has supported us with foodbank vouchers, grant applications, arranging affordable payment plans for debts, writing off debts, organising thousands of pieces of paperwork into ordered files and much much more. We have just moved into our forever home, my husband is working and I start a degree October. Red Cross and, indeed Chris’ support has been invaluable and instrumental in securing such positive progress for my family and we are so grateful. I would be interested in supporting others in a similar fashion to Chris’ role in the future as a direct result of his support.’

I have nothing more to add, happy Friday 🙂

Hannah