How our food bank works

What is a food bank?

Food banks provide emergency food and practical support to people who have been left without enough money to live on.  

People also get emotional support, and a reminder that they are not alone and someone understands. Our volunteers offer a friendly face and basic kindness. For many people, it’s the first time someone has sat down and listened to them – especially when they have been worn down by the way our social security system currently works.

What is a food voucher?

A food voucher is required to get help from a food bank. Community organisations such as housing associations, GPs and advice charities can provide a referral for a food voucher, which is then exchanged for a food parcel at our foodbank.

Find out how and where to get a food voucher

More than food

We offer holistic support and advice to people, often at their toughest moment, in two ways: through funding advisers at our food bank, and through other external advice services.

This wraparound approach connects people with wider support and puts more money into their pockets, making it far less likely someone will need a food bank in the future. 

How we're changing the way we support people

At Braintree Area Food bank, our purpose has always been to help people through short-term crisis, with kindness, dignity, and compassion. We know that life can be unpredictable, and for many people the foodbank has been a vital source of support at a very difficult time.

Over recent years, we’ve seen an increasing number of people needing our help more frequently and for longer periods. This tells us that many of the challenges people are facing are complex and ongoing, and that food alone is not always enough to resolve them.

Because of this, we are introducing a new way of working designed to make sure people get the right support at the right time. Our aim being to help prevent situations from becoming harder or more entrenched. The ultimate goal being self-sustainability.

What this means for clients

If you come to the foodbank, you can still expect to be treated with respect, confidentiality, and care. However, over time you may notice some changes in how support is offered:

• Foodbank support is intended to be short-term help during a crisis, not a long-term solution.
• If you need support more than a few times, we may begin to ask more questions about your situation.
• You may be offered a conversation with a member of our team to better understand what’s going on for you.
• Continued foodbank support may be linked to working with us (and sometimes other organisations) to try to improve your situation.
• In some cases, there may be limits on how foodbank support is provided, while we focus on helping you access longer-term solutions.

These conversations are not about judgement, blame, or taking support away. They are about understanding your circumstances and seeing what might help you move forward.

Working together

We know we can’t solve everything on our own. Where appropriate, we may suggest or support you to engage with other services, such as:

• debt or benefits advice
• housing or tenancy support
• health or addiction services
• employment or training support

If you are already working with another agency, we will take that into account and, with your consent, aim to work alongside them.

Our commitment to you

We understand that change can feel unsettling, especially if the foodbank has been something you’ve relied on. Our aim is not to withdraw support abruptly, but to make sure it is used in a way that is fair, sustainable, and genuinely helpful.

If you are worried about what these changes mean for you, we encourage you to talk to a member of the foodbank team. We are here to listen.

Who runs food banks?

Our food bank is run by the local community, for the local community. From trustees through to volunteers, our team is made up of local people committed to providing support across the area.

Our food bank is an independent charity, with an independent board of trustees.