Norwich Foodbank: Update 223, 9 May 2025
I don’t know what your week has been like, but mine has been quite a mixture of interesting things! Some of them pretty unusual including a visit to Yarmouth Port (see below), a presentation to Norwich City Council; an underground tour of Carrow House (highly recommended if you get the opportunity; I hear ShoeBox tours maybe involved in the future…!) and an online chat to learn about ‘The 32 Steps of Togetherness’ (I included the link in case you are intrigued, like I was!). FYI, step 12 is ‘help a local foodbank’
Charity of the Year
I have shared previously when we have been nominated or voted as ‘charity of the year’ for a group or workplace and we are currently the Norwich branch of The Treasury’s charity of the year. We were particularly honoured because they have often had a split vote and so supported a couple of causes but we were the majority (if not unanimous) vote this year They have already supported with filling a couple of shifts at the Tesco collection and the upcoming Waitrose collection, as well as donating Easter Eggs and having a monthly ‘item to donate’ to focus support for donations. Jon and I went to their premises to share more about our work and get them excited for the year ahead: they have a calendar of events planned including office bake sales and sponsored fun runs and we are pleased to have had such a good reaction so far.
NORJAM sign up
This year, we have been invited to have a presence at NORJAM, on The Norfolk Showground. NORJAM (Norfolk Jamboree) brings together Scouts and Guides from across the world for fun, activities and team building – did anyone attend when they were that age or perhaps as a leader? We will be attending for 2 days (14th/15th August) with a stall to share what we do, ask for support from local groups in terms of donations and awareness raising and collecting appropriate leftovers .We have been asked by the organisers to ensure that everyone who volunteers has a DBS check so we are sending out the request for volunteers early to enable the relevant paperwork to be completed. Please can you reply using the link below if you are able to help? Norjam form
‘That’s Unusual’ (maybe a new topic?!)
Some of you know our 0300 phone number is very similar to the district nurses (!) and so every now and then we’ll get an irate call from someone needing a dressing changed…! One such voicemail came through last week and Rachel dealt with it: ‘The lady had left a voicemail and I phoned the district nurse to pass the message on to. A nurse then called and emailed to say they have spoken to the patient and a referral has gone through for her.’ Rachel said ‘I can’t leave voicemails waiting for a response even if they’re not for us. No, that’s not me being nice. Just my job. ‘
Yarmouth Ship Donation
Do you remember the incident involving an oil tanker in the North Sea in February…? The damaged ship is docked in Yarmouth awaiting repairs / further instructions and a crew member knows one of our volunteers and so we got offered their ambient products! We were offered their frozen items too but have connected them with others who can store and cook 2 foot plus long pieces of meat…! There were a lot of American items, Greek items and huge catering sized things – 1 gallon of pickles for example! – but also tinned meat, tuna, ketchup, tea, coffee, jam and instant noodles so worth the trip. I also got to go on the bridge (not in the brig as I proudly told my husband!) and explore the ship a bit with the Captain and navigator (both American) who were incredibly hospitable. And at the end, we were wished a ‘safe journey back to Nor-wich’. The navigator told me he had visited 26 countries and I don’t think he was much more than 26 years old Not something I thought I’d do in my foodbank capacity or indeed at all! I haven’t yet got permission to share photos but if I do, I’ll do that next time. For now you’ll have to make do with a selfie of me and Captain Pat.
Oak Grove
It was really lovely to visit Oak Grove this week and ‘help’, although I won’t get a counting job again as I gave out the numbers in the wrong order… I met a client I’ve seen several times before at different centres and had a good long chat about what they were struggling with, what help they’d tried to access, what hadn’t worked etc and was able to make a referral on to a team I’m sure can support them. It was also really good to welcome Andy from MIND / NHS Talking Therapies as a new partner to further support and help those who come to the foodbank.
Waitrose Eaton
Thank you SO much to all those who are helping out at the upcoming Waitrose collection . We have filled all but one shift – Friday 30th 12pm – 2pm – if you able to offer the whole two hours or even just one hour within that, it would be incredibly helpful so please do let myself or Jon ([email protected]) know.
Trussell September Survey
The ‘September Food Bank Network Survey’ is a survey conducted with foodbanks in the Trussell community, and provides a valuable opportunity to hear directly from foodbanks and build a picture of the provision and activity. In September 2024, 169 food banks responded (this is 40% of the network). Of these:
- 93% say that someone is very likely or fairly likely to be offered benefits advice or other support at their foodbank [i.e. on-site advice and support like we have]
- 61% had emailed or written to their local MP, MSP, MS or MLA about a policy issue affecting the need for foodbanks in 2024.
The average number of volunteers per foodbank is between 71-150 [we had approximately 180 actively volunteering during 2024]
Foodbanks have, on average, 16 active relationships with churches [we have 13 just in our distribution centres and delivery hubs, so not even starting to count donors which is in the 100s!!]
Almost a third receive donations from non-Christian faith organisations and just over half have volunteers from different faiths
Norfolk and Norwich Festival
In case you were looking for something to do this weekend (and over the next couple of weeks), the Norfolk and Norwich Festival is on from today (Friday 9th May) until Sunday 25th May. There are both paid for / ticketed events and free things; more info here
GOOD NEWS
I was chatting to someone earlier in the week about people who don’t like speaking on the phone and how this is either more common (I have heard this said since the pandemic) or I am just more aware of it and then I received this message from one of our partner agencies:
‘I have just spoken with a lady who was referred to me via the office, who is in dire straits: she has been looking after her elderly parents for a few months and lost her father recently, and everything else has just gone wrong. She has worked all her life, but is now out of work and has no idea about benefits etc. Anyway, after speaking on the phone for a while and explaining how we can help her, she said ”Thank you so much, this is literally the first positive or happy thing I have heard in months”.’
Happy Friday all
Hannah