We are not just about food

Although we are a foodbank, our focus is not just the food, but also poverty preventative work, with advice and signposting important parts of our activities. We have partnerships with advisors at South West London Law Center, Merton Family Hubs, Citizen Advice and our biggest achievement is Jenny, our in-house financial inclusion advisor. All working together to support food bank users to directly access benefits, grants, bill reductions, family support, debt support and helping with tasks such as filling out forms and helping to make difficult phone calls.

In 2024, Michelle also joined our team as a signposting and wellbeing volunteer. She calls foodbank users a week after they have collected food to check in on their wellbeing and book appointments with our advisors. To help people get quick access to advice and prevent long-term use of our food banks.

Over the last five years the demand at Wimbledon Foodbank has increased each year by 20%, with many local residents stuck in a hopeless cycle of poverty. It’s estimated that £23 billion in income-related benefits and social tariffs goes unclaimed annually, according to Policy in Practice. It became clear many of our users were entitled to support they didn’t even know existed. Jenny informs us that 60% of the clients she has worked with to maximise their income no longer require foodbank services; this is the work we will continue throughout 2026.

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