Having a roof over your head in London doesn’t necessarily mean you have enough to eat. According to the charity Foodbank, 13 million people across the UK are living on the edge of poverty. In this recession, many people are struggling to make ends meet in one of the most expensive cities in the world. Throw a redundancy, bereavement, illness or emergency repair into the mix and suddenly you could find yourself without money to feed yourself or your family. Social services don’t often respond quick enough to meet the needs of people who find themselves in this vulnerable position. Benefit delays and growing debt can lead to family breakdown, repossession or worse.

The Trussell Trust set up the first Foodbank in Salisbury in 2000, providing free food to people in crises. Even in this supposedly affluent area, hungry, broken people were falling through the cracks onto their doorstep. There are now over 40 Foodbanks working with local churches all over the UK to feed the hidden hungry. 24,000 people were given emergency food last year, a 71% increase on the year before.

Foodbank is coming to London. Premier Christian Radio is working with Foodbank as part of the Love London initiative. By 2012, we aim to have a Foodbank operating in every London borough in conjunction with local churches.

Foodbanks in London cost approximately £10,000 to run in the first year. The cost of renting premises, purchase and transport of food and staff expenses all need to be covered in order to adequately meet the needs of the hidden hungry in every community.

If you are interested in setting up a Foodbank in your borough, or would like more information please contact Andy Adenegan, Foodbank Developer for London andy.adenegan@trusselltrust.org or 07956 599 462