Foodbanks

The cost-of-living crisis has made it much more difficult for many people in Birmingham to afford food. If this is something you are experiencing, there are a lot of different ways you can get food cheaply or for free.

The Birmingham Food Justice Network Map has been created to help you find nearby options, which include foodbanks and other options such as food clubs/food pantries (where you can get cheaper food) and community cafés (where you can get a free or cheap hot meal).

Food banks provide a food parcel for at least three days for free. A map just showing foodbanks is available: Birmingham Food Justice Network Map

These foodbanks use a voucher system. Most of these only accept three vouchers every six months to ensure that there is enough food for everyone in need.

You can request a Foodbank voucher online, or by contacting the customer service centre.

Foodbank voucher request form: Begin now

Contact the customer service centre on 0121 303 1116 to book a referral. Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm, and Saturday 10am to 1pm.

Please note, you cannot attend a foodbank without a valid referral from the customer service centre.

We know that accessing a foodbank or another project for the first time can be daunting. However, people volunteering do their utmost to make visitors feel welcome.

If you would like some support with this, please speak to us at school, and we can help you with the form completion.

Financial support in a short-term crisis:

Birmingham's Local Welfare Provision (LWP) scheme helps vulnerable people in short-term crisis with food and essential items. It is grant-based, which means people who receive help from it will not have to repay anything. It is not intended to replace the councils’ statutory duties.

For more details on how the scheme is operated, look at the Local Welfare Provision policy.

There are 2 types of payment made from this provision:

                • Crisis payments are made to citizens to meet their needs for subsistence in terms of essential food and                    or clothing.

                • Community support grants are paid to citizens to meet their immediate needs for essential furniture or                    white goods to sustain their housing needs and to gain greater independence within the community.

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20017/benefits_and_support/308/help_in_a_short-term_crisis

To be eligible, you must:

    • Be resident in Birmingham

    • Be aged 16 or over

    • Not be a person subject to immigration control or have no recourse to public funds

    • Be without sufficient resources to meet your/your family's immediate short-term needs.