A day in the life of a north Bristol food bank

Plastic crates full of food are piled high for as far as the eye can see, all neatly sorted and labelled by product type.

This vast warehouse in an undisclosed location in north Bristol is a stark indictment of the extent to which food banks have had to scale up their operations to meet rising need as the hubs that provide an emergency lifeline have become ingrained in the fabric of society.

“The week before Christmas is one of our busiest times of year and it felt like last year, we had that peak and then it never went down again – the numbers just stayed high. And now we’re having another peak,” says Shauna Booker (main photo), administrator for North Bristol & South Gloucestershire food bank.

“The big difference we’ve seen this year is stock levels with the cost of living. This year has been really hard for so many. People who maybe had a bit of headroom to buy some extra stuff and donate it don’t necessarily have that anymore. So we’re giving out double what we get in – the gap between the kind of supply and demand is a lot greater now than it’s ever been before.”

The food bank experienced the highest volume of referrals ever recorded within a single week between December 11 and 15. And this follows a year that has seen unprecedented demand.

Figures released by North Bristol & South Gloucestershire food bank in November shed stark light on the level of need. The food bank, which is run by the Trussel Trust, saw a 33 per cent increase in the number of people who couldn’t afford essential items between April and September this year – and a 52 per cent increase from the same period in the pre-pandemic year of 2019/20.

Of the 3,134 emergency food parcels given out, 1,431 went to children.

Shauna says the food bank is seeing a big increase in the amount of people who are turning to a food bank as they are unable to afford essential items for the first time – and many of these are in work.

“I think people think of food banks in the way that they think of a GP or a shop, or something that’s part of society and ingrained. But we are charities, not public services. I think that’s something that people forget a lot of the time,” says Shauna, adding that ultimately she’d love to work herself out of a job as it would mean there is no longer need for food banks.

North Bristol and South Gloucestershire food bank experienced the highest volume of referrals ever recorded within a single week between December 11 and 15

It’s a Thursday afternoon and over in Ebenezer Church on Filton Avenue, the food bank is in full swing.

It’s warm inside and people cradle hot drinks at small tables while their emergency parcels are being prepared. A volunteer sits down to chat with one lone client, while a mum embraces her daughter, who has just been handed a snack to eat while she waits.

For two friends from Bradley Stoke, this is the second visit to the food bank in recent times.

“We’re here because we’ve gone through a traumatic time and lost a friend,” says one of the women, who prefers not to be named, adding that things quickly spiralled for her.

“It’s brilliant to get this help – it’s just getting the bits and pieces for a meal because it’s expensive to put things together. I try to make meals that you can have a few times and make a batch of them but it’s so expensive, even the own brands have gone up.”

“Most of the money is eaten up by electric,” adds her friend. “Electric is so much more now. I’ve tried to just put one heater on but I switched it off. Just to keep one warm spot is just too expensive.”

Ellen Wood says people who never thought they’d need to use a food bank have turned to it as their only option

Ellen Wood is the food bank manager and says the number of clients are at an all-time high, with expectations that these will continue to rise.

“Whereas before, you might have kind of peaks throughout certain times of the year, this year it’s just been busy. And the numbers have been high every week,” Ellen tells Bristol24/7.

“We’re seeing a broader spectrum of people as well. Lots more people who are in work and struggling and there’s a big variety in terms of families, single people, couples, younger, and older people. And for lots of people, this is their first time here. A higher percentage of our users now are people who never thought they’d have to use a food bank before – they have never considered it – and that’s becoming their only option.”

Ellen says the Trussel Trust is having to pivot its thinking to ensure its operations are sustainable. This includes trying to do more signposting to advice and support to try to address the root causes of why people need to turn to food banks.

But, with many issues complex and services and charities stretched to breaking point, there’s no easy solution.

Last month, Trussel Trust bosses said the current situation of rising need can’t be allowed to go on and – together with food banks across the country – called on the government “to act decisively to support people who are struggling”.

Volunteer David Parker says the generosity of the people who give to the food bank belies the idea of a broken society

For volunteer David Parker, the food bank is undoubtedly a sign of “broken Britain”, but he says he also sees the best in humanity here.

“I suppose the food bank in itself is an indicator of how broken Britain is,” the Hotwells resident tells Bristol24/7.

“And yet the paradox is that the generosity of the people who give to the food bank belies the idea of a broken society, because it’s only because they’re giving anything that means that you can run this sort of organisation.”

For Beverley, who has been volunteering with the food bank for a year, it’s a chance to listen to people and, where possible, offer reassurance that it’s nothing to be ashamed of and could happen to anyone.

Waiting for her emergency parcel, Michelle remains steadfastly optimistic despite coming to the end of what has been a very difficult year.

The Horfield resident (who did not want to give her last name) turned to the food bank due to unemployment that has been exacerbated by health issues.

“It’s really fantastic, it has really helped me out,” says Michelle, speaking about the emergency lifeline.

“I want to go back to work full time. But if I go back to work full time, being a single parent, I couldn’t afford the full rent.

“It’s just going round and round in circles. I first came to a food bank two years ago and I’d not used one before then.

“I had to care for my mum – who has passed away now – but she used to be a great help with just a loaf of bread and milk, or whatever. If you’ve got some bread and eggs then you’ve got a meal.

“I would like to really, sincerely, thank everybody that donates because if it wasn’t for them, I would not get by.

“I will one day be in a position to donate myself.”

Find out more about the food bank and how you can support it or seek help via: www.nbsg.foodbank.org.uk/

All photos: Ellie Pipe

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