Didcot Foodbank opened in 2009, established by the enormously hardworking volunteers at Didcot Baptist Church. Today, it is undergoing a historic funding crisis that is leading to an evolution of its support base. As a result, over the years, the organization has experienced a major attrition in its funding bases – its donors. To date, about 75% of its donations are in cash, with just 25% coming from tangible food donations. This is a huge reversal from just five years ago when physical donations represented over 90% of all donations.
Even with these fiscal challenges, the food bank expects to provide for about 6,000 clients this year. To stay in line with the evolving world Around Green Book, Didcot Foodbank has changed its distribution hours. Clients will instead start with weekly support for six weeks, before a wider six month period of support. This new approach would supplant the old system. Under the old system, you could receive assistance twice a week over a period of six weeks, but then underwent a three-month waiting period before being able to refer someone else.
Andrew Snell, manager of Didcot Foodbank, warned of the funding imbalance the charity is now experiencing.
“This year to date we will have had £29,000 income in cash, and we will have spent close to £60,000 on food, so there’s a big gap there.” – Andrew Snell
This gap underscores the challenges that Didcot Foodbank is confronting as it shifts back to an emergency food bank model. Snell said the move marked a return to what the organization was founded to do. It has abandoned long-term investments in help families get by and is now focused on delivering short-term assistance.
“We’ve gone back to being what we were before covid, which is an emergency food bank, as opposed to helping families on low incomes who are just about coping, or not quite coping.” – Andrew Snell
While Snell acknowledged that community generosity through the pandemic helped fill up reserves, the present circumstances show a staggering 61 percent drop in monetary donations.
“People were giving us the actual food but not so much in the way of money.” – Andrew Snell
Didcot Foodbank still manages to work with around 40 other local organizations to help refer clients to them. It receives support from South Oxfordshire District Council’s community hub, Citizens Advice, schools and nurseries, medical practices, health visitors, housing associations, and several charities.
Snell is optimistic about increasing financial contributions going forward. Even he admits the practical effects of the lack of money are being felt right away.
“I hope we’ll be able to increase the donations and go back to full-on help for people who are going to get a bit squeezed out at the moment.” – Andrew Snell
