Luke Pollard MP Member of Parliament for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
In the UK today, 4.2 million children live in poverty. 2.5 million children live in “food insecure” households – without access to the food they need to learn, play and grow. On Wednesday 21 October, Conservative MPs blocked a Labour motion to provide Free School Meals over the school holidays, that would have ensured the poorest children in our society have at least one healthy and nutritious meal a day.
Since then, there has been an outpouring of people in Plymouth looking for ways they can help children who don’t have enough food, and from parents struggling to make sure that their children have enough.
Below are some initiatives and charities based in Plymouth and nationwide, that help provide the basics to those who need it, and are always looking for volunteers or donations to keep their vital work going.
Plymouth and Devon based:
If you need support, Plymouth City Council may be able to refer you to foodbank for crisis support, if you think you are eligible please contact the Council on 01752 668000. They are not issuing physical vouchers at the moment, instead you will be issued with a reference number that you can take along to a foodbank.
1. Feeding Plymouth
A new fundraiser set up by Charlotte Holloway as a response to the recent vote, aiming to raise £2,000 for Plymouth Food Bank and Provide Devon.
2. Plymouth Food Bank
This Trussell Trust Food Bank provides emergency food to those who need it. They are always looking for food or money donations. See more on their website below.
Oasis Project, Manor Street, Plymouth, PL1 1TW
https://www.facebook.com/PlymouthFoodbank
01752 254981
3. North Plymouth Food Bank
This Trussell Trust Food Bank provides emergency food to those who need it. They are always looking for food or money donations. See more on their website below.
North Plymouth Community Church, Plymbridge Road, Plymouth , PL6 7LF
www.northplymouth.foodbank.org.uk
https://www.facebook.com/NPFoodbank/
07759 258889
4. Plympton Community Foodbank
This Trussell Trust Food Bank provides emergency food to those who need it. They are always looking for food or money donations. See more on their Facebook page below.
St Mary’s Parish Hall, Market Road Plympton, PL7 1QW
https://www.facebook.com/FoodbankPlymptonTeamMinistry/
07795 026939
5. Devon and Cornwall Food Action
Devon and Cornwall food action works with food producers and supermarkets to redistribute surplus food to those in need. They supply a number of services, community organisations and groups. Through their various means testing schemes produce is distributed to those that have been identified as being in desperate need to feed themselves and their families.
devonandcornwallfoodaction.org
facebook.com/thedevonandcornwallfoodassociation/
01752 651800
6. Keyham Community Kitchen
Take away and delivery (within 1 mile of the centre) of free frozen or ready to eat meals available for anyone in need. Mondays and Thursdays between 9am and 2pm.
Keyham Green Places, 163 Renown Street, PL2 2DT
https://www.facebook.com/KeyhamCrops/
01752 569340
7. Plymouth Community Meals
Plymouth Community Meals offer a two course lunch that will delivered to your door. For an additional cost, you can also purchase a tea time sandwich/ salad and slice of cake. Meals can be provided seven days a week or just for a couple of days. They are looking for volunteers to deliver food.
plymouthonlinedirectory.com/plymouthcommunitymeals
01752 305140 or 01752 305162
8. Plymouth Soup Run
Plymouth Soup Run delivers food to the homeless in various locations around Plymouth every evening. They are accepting volunteers to help prepare and distribute food. Luke regularly volunteers on the Soup Run.
Shekinah, Bath Street, Plymouth, PL13LT
http://www.plymouthsouprun.org.uk/
facebook.com/Plymouth-Soup-Run-219196825382517/
07794 555419
9. Plymouth PIE Club
Plymouth PIE Club are cooking meals for vulnerable people twice a week, helping support those across our city in real need. They are a Community Volunteer Group setup in partnership with Ageuk and Eldertree, to support the local community during and after the COVID-19 epidemic. Their volunteer lead group provides meals as well as essential shopping every Wednesday and Sunday.
https://www.facebook.com/plymouthpieclub/
07983 697866
Other organisations providing food in Plymouth are outlined here: https://www.plymouthonlinedirectory.com/covid19/caringforplymouth/foodshopping/foodbanks
National Charities:
10. Trussell Trust
The Trussell Trust supports a nationwide network of food banks and together we provide emergency food and support to people locked in poverty, and campaign for change to end the need for food banks in the UK. You can donate below.
11. Magic Breakfast
Magic Breakfast ensures that no child in their partner schools is too hungry to learn by providing healthy breakfast food and expert support to help identify and reach those pupils at risk of hunger. You can donate below.
https://www.magicbreakfast.com/donate/magic-breakfast/credit-card
12. Fare Share
FareShare is the UK’s national network of charitable food redistributors, made up of 17 independent organisations. Together, we take good quality surplus food from right across the food industry and get it to almost 11,000 frontline charities and community groups. This charity has been supported very strongly by Marcus Rashford MBE, footballer and food campaigner. There’s information on how to volunteer and donate on their website.
Everyday children in our city go to sleep hungry. That's why free school meals are such an important lifeline for children from the poorest backgrounds in Plymouth. Luke Pollard MP
