Speaker Graham Walker Bradford Metropolitan Food Bank

Graham said that he wished that the charity didn't have to exist but unfortunately it does. There is only one part time coordinator the 6 trustees and other workers are all volunteers. Besides the expenditure for the part timer the only costs other than food are for things like bags and string.

The charity gives out 300 bags of food per week on average, but they do not directly engage with vulnerable people. Rather they supply to organisations such as Social Services, maternity care at Bradford Royal Infirmary and Horton Housing. Horton Housing receive 40 bags a week.

The manager of maternity care at BRI asked whether the food bank could help transport patients to the hospital as a lot were not turning up as the couldn’t afford food and transport. Instead they supply them food now nearly 100% turn up now as can get food to balance their budget.

There are 4 big food banks and 30 smaller ones in the Bradford Metropolitan area. In addition to the Metropolitan there are 2 Trussell Food banks and 1 at the Salvation Army in Keighley. Unfortunately providing free food is only a sticking plaster and doesn’t solve the base problem. Around 50% of children in the Central Bradford area live in poverty.

A recent development via Inn Churches is the creation of “Saver units”. Here a person pays £6 per week for 10 to 15 items of food of their choice. £5 is for the food and £1 goes into a credit union savings account in their name to get them into the habit of saving. There are currently 30 “Saver units” in Bradford.

They used to get a lot of food donated but because cost of living they are not receiving as much these days and so rely on monthly direct debit donations. There are different bags for different sections of the community e.g. regular, halal and gluten free. There are currently 12 volunteers which is enough to do the work required and there is a waiting list of others who want to help. When giving out food the charity is obliged to follow the “use before date” but not the “best before date”.

The organisation has recently moved to Brighton Street in Shipley.

For more information see their web site - https://bradfordfoodbank.com/