8,086 emergency food parcels provided to people by Salisbury Foodbank in the last 12 months

Salisbury Foodbank has seen a 2% reduction in the number of emergency food parcels distributed compared to the previous financial year. People continue to struggle to afford essentials such as food. 

The levels of need were particularly acute in December, the busiest month for Salisbury Foodbank, with 936 emergency food parcels provided by staff and volunteers, in addition to our usual seasonal hampers offering, which supported a further 2000 people.

Maria Stevenson, Foodbank Manager at Salisbury Foodbank said: "We have faced a very challenging few years with rising demand. 

"44% of people accessing our support are citing the main cause to be rising cost of essentials in 2023/2024.  This is a situation we all share, with increased household bills and essentials such as food and insurance etc. 

"People with the lowest income do not have the financial resilience to buffer cost of living increases.  Our second largest main cause driving people to our foodbanks is priority debt at 16%.

"Over the last 18 month alongside the provision of emergency food, Salisbury Foodbank offered people who were referred a warm welcome, as well as connections to advice and support that makes it less likely someone will need the food bank again in the future.

"We have funded Wiltshire Citizens Advice to address the root cause of people’s financial hardship, offering a fast track, face to face service for people accessing Salisbury Foodbanks support. I am delighted to record that this hard work and partnership working is starting to pay off.  We have a recorded 2% reduction in visitors during 2023/24.

"This is by no means the end of our challenging journey.  The number of people accessing our support remains high, with an average of 700 people supported each month. 

"Our food stocks are depleting with an average of 11 tonnes of food leaving our doors every month and only 8 tonnes coming in.  This presents us with a large stock deficit month on month.  The support of Salisbury and its surrounding community is vital in ensuring that Salisbury foodbank can be there for anyone who turns to us for help.  In the last quarter of 2023/24 we purchased over £12,000 worth of food to ensure local people will not face hunger in the next month."

A typical emergency food parcel consists of items such as tinned fruit and vegetables, canned meat and fish, tea, coffee, biscuits, UHT milk, rice and much more. Still, Salisbury Foodbank has to purchase more stock as donations are no longer meeting local needs.

Any donation is gratefully received and can be dropped off at the food bank and supermarket collection points. 

Financial donations are welcome and can be made payable to Salisbury Foodbank, Unit 6b Ashfield Road Trading Estate, SP2 7HL. 

Or by visiting the Give Help page on the Salisbury Foodbank website.  https://salisbury.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/