What we do
We provide emergency food and essentials, alongside the practical support of our money advice service for people facing financial hardship.
What is a foodbank?
Foodbanks 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.
Providing emergency food
Who runs food banks?
Our foodbank 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 foodbank is an independent charity, with an independent board of trustees.
What is a food referral?
A food referral is required to get help from our foodbank. 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.
Dedicated Referral Agencies
In order to provide the most appropriate help for the circumstances of your situation we work with local agencies across the county. If they feel you are struggling to put food on the table, they will send us a foodbank referral. The local agency can also provide long-term support if needed to help address some of the issues behind the reasons for your crisis.
Our foodbank works with a number of different agencies, such as Citizens Advice, East Lothian Council services, GPs, health visitors and local charities. When you speak to a referral agency they will take some basic details from you to complete the referral. This will help them to identify the cause of your crisis and offer practical guidance. It also means we are able to prepare suitable emergency food for the right number of people and take into account any special dietary requirements.
If you cannot get to the foodbank to collect your food then please mention this to the person making your referral and they will make the arrangements for food to be delivered if this is at all possible.
Once they’ve sent the referral to us, we’ll be in touch to confirm details with you.
If you are a potential referral agency and would like to become registered with our foodbank, please contact us.
More than food
We offer holistic support and advice to people, often at their toughest moment, in two ways: through funding advisers at our foodbank, 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 foodbank in the future.