How to get help

1. To collect a food parcel from the Foodbank, you will need to be referred.

If you are struggling and need an emergency food parcel, contact a local referral agency. We have given some examples of helplines below but you may already be in contact with someone who can refer you; your key worker, your GP, Health Visitor, the school your children attend, your housing officer, an organisation giving you advice or support, we have hundreds of local agencies signed up who can refer to us. It is their decision, based on their knowledge of you and your situation, to decide whether to refer you or not.

A referral agency will discuss your situation and supply you with a foodbank voucher when appropriate to do. Remember, this is a decision that they will make. We do not make referrals into the Foodbank.

If you don’t know who to contact to request a referral, then please talk to H&F Citizen’s Advice 

Alternatively, please call or email our foodbank so that we can help you find a referral agency relevant to you.

If you can’t afford food, you can call the Help Through Hardship national helpline 0808 208 2138 (freephone) to speak to a trained and independent Citizens Advice agent (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm excluding Bank Holidays). You can also contact your local Citizens Advice in a variety of ways, see www.cahf.org.uk 

Alternatively, please call 0800 917 6994 to speak to the council Cost of Living Team (8am to 6pm Monday to Friday excluding Bank Holidays) who can help direct to local support and may issue you with a Foodbank voucher based on your circumstances. If you are on Universal Credit, you can also get council support from the Local Support Payments Team on 0207 745 6464. They can provide a range of support such as grants for furniture or white goods etc based on an assessment by phone.

2. Come along to your nearest foodbank centre with your referral. 

You can find a list of our local centres and opening times here. Our volunteers are there to make sure you are looked after once you arrive, they will check your referral and work with you to ensure that we are able to put together a suitable food parcel for you and your family.

A Citizen’s Advice worker is in most Foodbank sessions and if it is your first time at Foodbank they will do a full assessment to see how they, or other advice / support services can help solve the reasons that have led you to need Foodbank.

If you have any further questions our FAQ’s page may help, or feel free to give us a call.

Please note these numbers are for people who do not have enough money for food – if you are a local organisation or charity that works with people who might need the food bank, please contact us directly.

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