Our Annual Report 2024-25

The cost-of-living crisis the UK is continuing to face has had a significant impact on the Foodbank. This financial year, 2024-2025, the foodbank has provided three days of food to 5205 adults and 2570 children. An increase of 243 adults and a decrease of 55 children fed.  We continue to build links with referral agencies; we now have 88; however most referrals came via Fylde Borough Council (1595 out of 3227). Grateful thanks for all the support they have given.

During the year the foodbank provided support for many asylum seekers from a  wide range of countries (Eritrea, Yemen, Ethiopia, Iran, Sri Lanka. Syria, Afghanistan and Libya) locating in Fylde. Many have been successful in their claims, are now settled in the area, some continue to visit our foodbank but less frequently.

We also helped many Ukrainian families until they managed to begin work or claim benefits. This year we have had 133 referrals, a decrease of 124 on the previous year.

Food Distribution

Demand for our foodbank services increases. This financial year, food distributed to clients amounted to 55163kgs. (an increase of 1861.kgs from 2023-2024). A total of 3227 referral vouchers have been fulfilled across the centres, an increase of 208 from 2023-2024.

2187 at St Anne’s

1004 at Kirkham

36 at Warton.

Due to the cost-of-living crisis the number of visits allowed has remained at six times in a six-month period, unless there are exceptional circumstances. The foodbank does not wish to create a dependency culture. “Low Income” on referral vouchers as the reason for crisis showed that for many there is not enough money for those on low incomes to afford the essentials. However at Fylde Foodbank we do our best not to turn anyone away if in desperate need.

Relationships

Thank you to our local supermarkets – Booths, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Lidl, and the Co-op for their continued support. A total of 10274kgs was collected from customer in-store donation points over the year.  Many local Churches, schools, doctors’ surgeries and business groups regularly help with donations as do the residents of Fylde.  A big thank you to everyone who drops a tin or a packet into our in-store donation bins. It is so much  appreciated. Total food donations received in 2024-2025 was 28554kgs. Donations remain very generous from the community; however this is a decrease of approximately 15% when need for food parcels is steadily increasing. This year Kirkham worked with Homestart and Fylde Borough Council to collect and give out school uniforms to any families in need, and we hope to continue to help in future years.

Fylde Foodbank is a volunteer run organisation. The foodbank has an extraordinary team of volunteers many of whom have been with the foodbank since it’s opening in 2014. Everyone works very hard from inputting data to stacking shelves, packing parcels, and collecting from supermarkets. To all our volunteers thank you for all you do.

We are most grateful to the many individuals and local businesses who have generously supported us during the year. Without that support the Foodbank could not function.

A full version of our Annual Report is available on request.

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