Together We Thrive, A Decade of Dedication: A Legacy of Growth, A Future of Hope.
Together We Thrive, A Decade of Dedication: A Legacy of Growth, A Future of Hope.
Who are we?
Bow Foodbank was founded in 2014 by a group of neighbours who spotted a short-term need in their community. No one expected it to still exist 10 years later, but the need is increasing. Pre-pandemic we supported 100 households each week. We currently support around 350 per week in our first home of our own that we moved to in August 2024.
Our Volunteers:
Volunteers are at the heart of our organisation. We have a team of 300+ community volunteers and 600 in our corporate partner programme who support our operation. We would love to welcome Aviva community volunteers into our team.
Volunteers take up essential roles such as: registration, stock taking, packing, welcoming guests, data analysis and admin. Our many roles can be found at this link: Volunteer Roles. We have created some bespoke roles (eg. governance and leadership advice, strategy and tactics, data analysis and presentation, tech and software support), we welcome ideas if you have particular skills to offer!
A bit about us:
In the first six months of 2023, our team delivered as many food bags as we did in the whole of 2022.
In 2023 and 2024:
- Everyone who came to us for food aid received food.
- We distributed around £900,000 worth of food to approximately 28,000 adults and children, including approximately 6,500 families and 9,000 children.
- Our guests told us that receiving food helped to create breathing space in the family budget, so they must no longer choose between food and other essential items.
- Our guests told us of the positive experiences they have had at the Foodbank.
- Our volunteers tell us that supporting the Foodbank helps them to connect to the wider community, develop their skills, and have a positive impact.
What services does Bow Foodbank provide?
People come to us for food but often have additional needs, such as ill health and unstable employment, so we’ve invested in training our incredible volunteers to help guests become more financially resilient.
Last year, we made over 600 referrals for legal aid, mental health, and income maximisation. We take a holistic view and bring together community solutions to help with things like vitamins, dental care and pharmacy costs. So they leave feeling valued by their neighbours as our new neighbours on the Roman Road provide many services. The funding will expand and secure this service for guests at our new location.
We offer training for our volunteers in Manual Handling, Safeguarding, GDPR and Food Safety. In our new location we have more shifts and services, therefore we need more qualified volunteers able to cover shifts throughout the week. Our recent funding secured from the Aviva double donation campaign we were able to support training in Safeguarding, triage, Health and Safety, Supervision to help make the magic happen.
We have plans to train small teams of volunteers to support our guests with specific needs, such as care leavers and those at the risk of homelessness. People come to the foodbank when they have exhausted their options and are in crisis. Many have been forced to choose between food and other basic needs like heating. We offer a nonjudgemental space of dignity and respect where every household can access support, food and a listening ear.
What outcomes could be achieved with help from volunteers?
Our holistic approach, grounded in the community, is vital for people experiencing food insecurity in Tower Hamlets. Our Volunteers are committed and enthusiastic community members, without their help we would not be able to give support to those in need.
We are more than just a food bank, meeting the immediate needs of our guests and training our community of dedicated volunteers opens up conversations regarding other support they need to improve their resilience in the long term.
Volunteer Impact
Helping our operation at the Foodbank you will see a direct community impact from the roles you participate in. You'll be directly involved in helping those facing food insecurity by providing essential support. Depending on the role, there are opportunities to develop skills in communication, guest service and operations coordination, which are all extremely valuable in professional life. You may also gain a greater understanding of the challenges faced by others by offering your time and support.
Many volunteers have found that working alongside others offered them the chance to form new friendships with like-minded people, creating a real structure of support within the organisation as well. We have a variety of sessions, this means volunteers can tailor volunteering to their specific schedule. Volunteering with Bow Foodbank is an excellent way to make a positive and direct impact on the lives of others, it makes a difference for everybody involved.
We would love to have Aviva community volunteers join us at Bow Foodbank!