New food bank opens at Bulwell church

Bestwood and Bulwell food bank, which is part of the Trussell Trust Network, has found that more and more people are walking from the Bulwell area to get help from its original location at St Philip's Church in Top Valley.

An increase in demand has been driven in large part by financial pressures faced by local people due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the last year, 4,000 three-day emergency food parcels were provided to local people by the food bank, nearly half of them going to children.

Bestwood and Bulwell Food Bank was set up in 2012 by local people and faith communities coming together to address the food poverty issue.

Over that time, they have provided local people with enough food for nearly a quarter of a million meals.

Everyone who comes to the food bank is referred by a professional such as a health visitor or housing association worker.

The new centre at St Mary's will mean that people given a food voucher no longer have to travel far for support.

Father Andrew Fisher, vicar at St Mary’s said: "North Nottingham has some of the most deprived areas in the country.

"Market stalls and shops in Bulwell have been lost, some quite recently, because of the pandemic.

"Whatever we can do to help people in these extraordinary times, we must

Anyone interested in supporting or donating to the food bank can find more information here or by contacting Nigel Webster at [email protected] or by phoning 0115 9551825.