Norwich Foodbank: Update 229
It’s August – how did that happen? It must be my age that this year is speeding by 
It’s been another busy couple of weeks in the warehouse, centres, office and everywhere in between 
It’s been another busy couple of weeks in the warehouse, centres, office and everywhere in between Norfolk Council Plans
I shared last time about the ‘Future Norfolk Survey’ about the future of local government / council in Norfolk and I attended an event, hosted by Norwich City and Broadland and South Norfolk councils. There are a few different proposals being floated and the survey: https://www.futurenorfolk.co.uk/ closes today (1st August) but it may be that it closed at 12.01am this morning. The proposals will be submitted to central government during September with them ‘approving’ a plan early 2026, so (if the survey allows!) do have your say.
Interesting Mix
Another meeting I attended had a very eclectic mix of attendees – in online meetings (Zoom / Teams), your name is in the attendee list and most people had renamed themselves to include their place of work. On the call were: Just Eat, Triumph Motorcycles, various councils and charities, the RAF, GP surgeries, universities and individuals! It was about wellbeing and mental health and how important connection and community is (exactly what we see and strive for within the foodbank). I found it encouraging that such a range of places were represented and interested in this topic.
Scout Group Visit
We had a long-standing commitment to a Scout Group which we had in the warehouse recently – we had cancelled several external groups due to the workload and of course because of cancelling warehouse shifts too! – so our agreement was that they needed to bring a healthy donation that they could then sort, weigh and put away. And they didn’t disappoint! Jon said they walked to the warehouse with a cart filled with donations and it was quite a sight seeing them come up Ivy Road. We also received this lovely feedback from the leader: ‘Thanks – it was perfect! They will have certainly learned a lot, and it will probably be an experience that stays with them for life. I was also a scout, and have many strong, lasting memories of the things I did. Thank you so much. It was a real learning experience for me too!’
Cup Of Tea
Trussell are highlighting the importance of a cup of tea (or coffee or cold drink!) and warm welcome across all foodbanks and have used our video of the self-proclaimed ‘brothers Grimm’ Raymond and Ian at Bowthorpe as a good example of the welcome people receive at Norwich foodbank. We know there are other great examples (perhaps not exactly like this 
) at all centres and it was lovely to have our team chosen as ‘good practice’; thank you all! We also heard from a referer at a recent meeting how they were surprised (in a good way I hope!) that ‘even I was welcomed and offered a drink’ when coming with a client to pick up their parcel.
Large Delivery + Huge Donation
We heard of a new bulk ordering system set up by an offshoot of Sheffield S6 foodbank and, after seeing the prices were really good, made our first order of 4 pallets of our most needed items. On top of this, we received 3 pallets (5,000 tins 
) of free tinned chilli con carne, with thanks to a generous donor who had given to the Sheiffled group and they had bought literally tonnes and they have shared it when foodbanks make their first order.
) of free tinned chilli con carne, with thanks to a generous donor who had given to the Sheiffled group and they had bought literally tonnes and they have shared it when foodbanks make their first order.Carrier Bags
You responded well to our plea for egg boxes and we now have plenty (and many coming in regularly which is great) and so the next plea is for carrier bags. We know lots of us have and use long life ones but equally others have stashes in the cupboard that they’ll never use or get through and we would love them! Do spread the word and share our facebook post (thanks Roxanne for the photo!). We posted this on facebook yesterday and before 1pm, a lady arrived with two bags STUFFED with bags in response! If you are at a distribution centre and know your team needs them, please just take straight there. Otherwise, please bring to the warehouse for us to share amongst the centres. 
Local doesn’t always mean small
I read an interesting article on ‘local doesn’t always mean small’, looking at social media and how ‘success’ is measured in numbers of clicks / shares / likes but that’s not how transformation happens – it happens slowly, quietly, relationally.
FEEDBACK
A lovely piece of feedback from Alex, one of our Citizen’s Advice advisors who provided support with an issue with a person’s gas meter. They wrote to say the advisor was ‘like an angel on my shoulder’. 
We have heard several times in recent weeks that people really appreciate the support in the moment (like the cup of tea, the welcome, the food parcel) but they would love some kind of follow up and check-in and this comment (coupled with similar comments from our UEA research a few years ago) brings this back to mind. Thank you to all of you who already do this so naturally, remembering names and circumstances if people return for example – what a difference that can make to how someone feels.
We have heard several times in recent weeks that people really appreciate the support in the moment (like the cup of tea, the welcome, the food parcel) but they would love some kind of follow up and check-in and this comment (coupled with similar comments from our UEA research a few years ago) brings this back to mind. Thank you to all of you who already do this so naturally, remembering names and circumstances if people return for example – what a difference that can make to how someone feels.Happy Friday everyone and hope you have a great day and weekend when it arrives.
Hannah