It was ten years ago that Helen Lloyd called a meeting at Daybrook Baptist Church inviting concerned people in the community to join her in helping create a foodbank store in the church cellars.
Now a decade later, Helen remains manager of Arnold Foodbank, which has – sadly – become one of the country’s busiest foodbanks.
The foodbank yesterday (March 14) marked its 10-year anniversary with a gathering and revealed it has now given out food to over 43,000 people – enough to fill the Nottingham Motorpoint Ice Arena four times over.
In the last ten years the foodbank has developed great links with the major supermarkets as well as remaining close to the wider church community.
Gedling Eye caught up with Asda Community Champions Bett and Andie at the event. Not only does Bett attend the foodbank every Wednesday to play cards with the attendees and promote engagement they arrive with at least two full trolleys of food every week donated by the customers at Asda, Arnold.
Andie said ‘Asda customers really want to support it’.
Local people, businesses, clubs, community groups, street boxes and other kind souls who often club together to fundraise for the foodbank provide 1/3 of all of the donations.
Volunteers at the foodbank in Arnold say demand for help has never been higher and projections show that Arnold Foodbank will serve 7500 people in the year up to March 31, an increase of almost 30% on the previous year.
Sadly 300 children rely on the foodbank every month, up 75% from last year.
Two thirds of service users just lack sufficient income to meet their essential needs and many are barely surviving.
Local Daybrook Councillors Peter Barnes (LAB) and Sandra Barnes (LAB) were also in attendance. Peter is the Mayor of Gedling and is retiring this year with over 49 years service to the borough of Gedling.
The Mayor of Gedling, Councillor Peter Barnes presented a certificate to say thank you to Helen Lloyd and her army of volunteers.
Both Peter and Sandra are strong supporters of the foodbank and Sandra was recognised by Helen Lloyd in her presentation as having attended and donated at the very first Arnold Foodbank ten years ago.
Helen Lloyd told the large group of supporters in attendance that every everyone is treated as an individual when they visit, they operate a bespoke attitude to service users and they can pick what they need.
They are just one foodbank covering north Notts, alongside Bestwood & Bulwell Foodbank and Hope Nottingham.
Helen said “We also support 20 households in Calverton from their base in Arnold but hope to establish a presence in Calverton in the next month or two.
“We want to be responsive not reactive, we want to see things happening before we get there so we are prepared.”
It is not just food that the foodbank is providing however, they launched a financial inclusion project last year. Their dedicated Citizen Advice consultant supported 71 local people with help and advice, helped them obtain £111,000 worth of benefits, rebates and savings and successfully helped ensure a quarter of those users will no longer need to use a foodbank.
The foodbank has also struck a deal with Dreamland for a pilot project where vulnerable service users are provided with low energy throws that cost no more than 5p per hour to heat.
Plans are also afoot for a new project – the possible use of ‘ticket banks’ to provide access for service users to events they may otherwise not be able to attend with the intention that this will provide a mental health boost to those ticket bank users. Venues that may be able to support this project are asked to get in touch with the foodbank.
Arnold Foodbank details
Daybrook Baptist Church,
Mansfield Road,
Nottingham
NG5 6AA
Opening times – for referrals and donations
Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1.30pm – 3.00pm
Donations can be dropped off between 12pm and 3pm
Contact details –
