Urgent Food Bank Winter Appeal

Himmah is a social justice charity that is dedicated to alleviating food poverty, reducing social inequalities, and supporting vulnerable communities in Nottingham. Our work was honoured with the prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service, recognising our dedicated staff and volunteers who contribute to our mission. We run the largest independent food bank in the city, providing crucial support through food parcels, guidance, and additional resources that address the financial, cultural, and social needs of our diverse community.

Our food bank distributed 15,387 food parcels last year, benefiting over 3,200 individuals, including 1,091 children, which equates to nearly 10 tonnes of food going to those in need each month. The rising demand stems from Nottingham’s high unemployment rates and the intensifying cost-of-living crisis. Many of our service users face multiple barriers, with the primary reasons for people seeking help being low income (72% of food bank service users reported this as a reason for needing our support), issues with benefits (40% of service users),homelessness (13%), debt (6.4%), ill health (11%) and domestic abuse. Despite these challenges, we that each household receives seven days’ worth of food, placing no limits on the number of parcels a household can receive, so we can offer continued support to those in prolonged hardship. And we also supply other items alongside our food parcels, these include winter clothing, hygiene products and pet food.

Beyond food parcels, we run a robust benefits advice service in partnership with the Nottingham Law Centre and the Financial Resilience Partnership, crucial for helping clients navigate complex welfare systems. Our advice team, which includes multilingual advisers, handles various cases, from housing issues to appeals for disability benefits. Over the past year, we supported 33 clients, addressing issues from eviction prevention to successful benefit appeals, and the service has resulted in £28,000 going to clients through benefits repayments and uplifts. Notable cases have included helping individuals secure back payments for Universal Credit, assisting with Personal Independence Payment (PIP) appeals, and guiding clients on council tax support. This service has had a transformative impact, alleviating financial stress and helping clients maintain housing.

Moreover, we supply winter goody bags for children on free school meals. Each bag we provide is filled with festive treats, toys, crayons, and colouring books, ensuring that the children experience a sense of celebration and normalcy during the holiday season. Additionally, each goody bag includes two books, selected in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust, to encourage reading and support educational development. These goody bags not only deliver immediate delight but also contribute positively to the children’s literacy and emotional well-being, creating an inclusive and cheerful festive experience for all involved.

Our costs have recently surged due to inflation and higher food prices, with our annual food expenses now exceeding £68,000. As donations have decreased, we are forced to purchase supplies at retail prices. This reality strains our budget, yet we remain committed to never turning away those in need. Additionally, our overheads have also increased – with our rent and utility costs doubling due to our move into a larger warehouse, which was needed to keep up with demand.

Alongside Nottingham’s largest independent food bank, we run Nottingham’s largest independent social supermarket, Foodprint. Foodprint offer surplus food at reduced rates, providing a low-cost shopping alternative for approximately 400 customers weekly. We have two Foodprint stores: one in our food bank in Radford, and one in Sneinton. Foodprint encourages financial independence and mitigates food waste, empowering residents to shop affordably while managing their budgets, therefore hopefully reducing a client’s need to access food parcels.

Himmah’s multifaceted approach addresses immediate food needs, promotes financial stability, and fosters community resilience. Through services like benefits advice, community gardening, and accessible social supermarkets, we are more than a food bank; we are a vital resource and advocate for Nottingham’s vulnerable populations.

In this crowdfunding appeal we are looking to raise £50,000 – £25,000 through donations and £25,000 through match funding. Match funding means that for every £1 that you donate, the Aviva Community Fund gives us an additional £1; so, a £1 donation results in us receiving £2, up to a maximum of £250.