Swindon Food Collective given charity status boost

Swindon’s new food bank has taken a ‘massive step forward’ after being awarded charity status by the Charity Commission.

The new status will allow Swindon Food Collective to ramp up its fundraising operation and bring new supporters on board. The news comes as the Westlea-based charity has been boosted by two new grants.  The town’s food bank was threatened with closure in May but Swindon Borough Council stepped in to cover Swindon Food Collective’s first six months costs when it took over running the operation.

Andrew Hill, the council’s Social Inclusion & Enterprise Manager, said: “Getting recognition from the Charity Commission is a massive step forward for this project. Now they can begin fundraising in earnest and start claiming gift aid on personal donations.”

Clare Collier, a volunteer director of Swindon Food Collective, which feeds 5,000 people a year in the town, said the charity needs £50,000 to cover running costs, including fuel for collection vans and renting warehouse space. “Now that we have charity status, we can open the management of the charity up to the volunteers and those who wish to support us. We will launch a membership scheme and hope that all our volunteers will want to become involved, having voting rights about the running of the charity and work of the directors and trustees; maybe even becoming a trustee themselves” she said.

Swindon Food Collective has been helped in tackling its costs with a £5,000 grant from the Wiltshire Community Foundation and £3,000 from Zurich Community Trust Ltd.

But Dr Collier said the charity still needs more help.  “These two grants make a contribution towards securing future operating costs,” she said. “But we also need sponsors to help with running costs, as well as people working as volunteer fundraisers and a book-keeper. Of course, we always need food donations which can be made at most of the town’s major supermarkets and other local outlets.”

Almost a third of the people helped by the charity are children.  Around 40 tonnes of non-perishable food are donated to collection points at supermarkets, schools and churches every year.

Volunteers sort the food into bags to feed individuals and families in crisis situations for around three days and this food is then given out at seven distribution centres across Swindon, Wootton Bassett and Highworth.

Cher Smith, the Swindon Food Collective Manager says “People need to know that we are there for them. We welcome referrals from agencies for anyone who is in need. If people need food they must be feel confident to approach our teams at the various distribution centres”.  She went on to say “Citizens Advice and family support workers are able to refer people to us via a phone text system or voucher/letter.”

​One anonymous lady who has used the food collective, said “Making the first step was the hardest. I felt I had let my children down by not being able to provide for them and the food parcels have been a real life-saver.” She went on to say, “For me just to be able to talk to someone about the problems I am facing helped and the support and kindness I received form the staff and volunteers was amazing.” She urges people to go if they need to – “Don’t suffer in silence”.

The charity has 65 volunteers working either in its warehouse at Stonehill Green and at its seven distribution centres on a rota basis to ensure clients have access to food every week day.

Dr Collier added: “All the volunteers have stayed with the charity through the change of management and are committed to making it a success.”

For more details go to swindonfoodcollective.org.