our mission

supporting people in crisis with compassion and dignity.

We do this by providing emergency food, which offers practical, immediate relief in moments of crisis, and by connecting people with local organisations who can help them to address the root causes and wider effects of poverty in their lives.

 

In 2023:

  • 211,256 kg

    of food distributed

  • 80

    volunteers helped

  • 33,377

    people supported

Generous contributions from our supporters allowed Hackney Foodbank to distribute 211,256kg of food and essentials to 33,377 people whilst facilitating connections to relevant support including financial management, debt and housing advice, and mental health organisations.

a hunger-free hackney where everyone can afford to eat.

We define people ‘in crisis’ as people who do not have, and are unable to afford, food or household items for themselves and those in their care.

All our work is underpinned by the belief that it is possible to change the circumstances that lead to hunger, and break cycles of poverty.

dignity compassion equity

outcomes and activities

our approach has three main elements

Relieving immediate hunger

Relieving immediate hunger by providing access to food and household items. This allows people some headspace to consider what steps they may need to take to address their circumstances.

Increasing hope

Increasing hope through conversations and connection to opportunities. No matter what is going on for people who come to us, we welcome everyone without judgement and with the fundamental belief that it is possible to change the circumstances that lead to hunger, and break cycles of poverty.

Increasing access to support

Increasing access to relevant support by connecting people to local organisations. It can be so hard to know where to start when seeking help, so we stay on top of what support is available locally and put people in touch with organisations we know can help them.

 

In 2021, our Board set three new Strategic Objectives, which we are working towards:

  • Become a more equitable, diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the community we serve at all levels of the charity.

  • Be sustainable (environmentally, financially and by promoting food independence).

  • Provide effective foodbank and signposting services where they are needed most.

You can view our Theory of Change here.

Testimonials
Before my experience at the food bank, I felt like I had nothing and nowhere to go. People might feel ashamed of asking for help when they’re struggling, but I feel proud that I did
Before my experience at the food bank, I felt like I had nothing and nowhere to go. People might feel ashamed of asking for help when they’re struggling, but I feel proud that I did

I felt like I had nothing and nowhere to go - so I’m proud to still be using the food bank to help feed my family. The food bank also pointed me in the direction of local organisations that provide helpful financial advice. I never would’ve got that information if I hadn't visited.

FOOD POVERTY IN HACKNEY

In Hackney, a growing number of people are finding themselves in crisis or trapped in poverty.

 

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of households claiming Universal Credit has tripled, to over 30,000. The State of Hunger Report 2021 highlights that welfare support is rarely enough, with insufficient income from social security being the key factor for people being unable to afford food. Others include ill health, adverse life experiences, and a lack of access to appropriate support (often in conjunction). In 2020, Covid-19 led to a 165% increase in demand March-December, and as of 2022, the cost of living crisis is set to push more people into poverty and/or crisis.

Supporting people to address the causes of poverty in their lives is becoming increasingly complex, with many people facing numerous different challenges which can contribute to a crisis situation.

Our approach recognises that food provision is not the answer to food poverty. We provide three days’ food to relieve immediate hunger, giving people a little space to focus on how to address the cause(s) of their crisis or poverty. All our visitors are connected with relevant organisations who can help them to address their circumstances in a meaningful, long-term way.

This alone is not enough. Without fundamental structural change and support in our society, we will continue to see the same challenges arising, and the same outcomes for people who become trapped in cycles of poverty that lead to hunger.

We support the Living Income campaign, which calls for "an ‘income floor’ that is enough to meet life’s essentials, like the weekly shop or an emergency boiler repair, which no one can fall below whether they are in or out of work.

The level is based on the independently-assessed Minimum Income Standard, which is also used to determine the real living wage."

Significant changes such as this are necessary to address and prevent food poverty from continuing to recur in our communities. We are in the process of developing our campaigning activities to contribute to the wider changes we believe are needed to tackle poverty, and work towards a hunger-free hackney, where everyone can afford to eat.

 
 

Learn more about our charitable objectives

To read our Charitable Objects and past annual reports, you can visit the Charities Commission website here.

We are part of The Trussell Trust's nationwide Foodbank Network, which brings together over 400 food banks and provides access to useful information, advice, and support. You can find out more about The Trussell Trust below.