The New Forest Basics Bank food bank in Lymington continues to support consistent number of families across district, along with FareShare community hubs and larders

A LYMINGTON-based food bank is continuing to help feed around 100 families a week amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

Praising the support of residents and councillors, New Forest Basics Bank chairman Oliver Stanley told the A&T the number of people relying on the facility had remained largely consistent since the pandemic.

But it can fluctuate, with as many as 144 or as little as 78 families needing support in a week.

The operation runs from the Cannon Street East car park, and is staffed by 295 volunteers, none of whom are paid for their time.

Although food parcels can be collected, most are delivered across the district by a team of five drivers.

“We spend £1,000 every trading day to run the food bank,” Mr Stanley said.

“£970 is spent on the food and £30 to keep the lights on.

“For every parcel that is sent out, 50-55% is what we’ve bought, 25% is from FareShare which we buy at a reduced rate; and another 25% is public donations, the bulk of which is from Waitrose, left by customers in donation baskets.”

FareShare is a nationwide charity working to combat hunger and crackdown on food waste.

It collects excess stock from central supermarket chains that otherwise would go to landfill.

The people who receive help from the food bank are referred by 97 different agencies.

“Ideally, a family comes to us for about six to eight weeks and then stops,” Mr Stanley continued.

“We have people who come to us for much longer than that – we call them frequent flyers.

“We will never turn anyone away from the food bank ever, but that doesn’t mean I won’t try to encourage them to go to larders.

“A food bank is a sticking plaster, not a solution. You shouldn’t live your life through a food bank.

“It’s very important that we provide an exit route from the food bank.”

The community food larders and support hubs are run by Fareshare, and there are five located across the New Forest.

These cater for an average of around 150 families per week.

Once a week, grocery parcels can be collected from the larders at charges of £5 for a family, £3.50 for a couple and £2.50 for a single person.

“This is a magic organisation. No referral is needed, anyone can come,” Mr Stanley said.

“The reason they’re so magic is nothing to do with food – it’s a community thing.

“They get agencies, including citizen’s advice, to come along. When Mohammed won’t come to the mountain they make the mountain come to Mohammed.”

The local larders are stationed at St Mark’s Community Hall in Pennington, The Nedderman Centre in New Milton, Testwood Baptist Church in Totton, St George’s Hall in Calshot and Fordingbridge’s Avonway Community Centre.

Mr Stanley cited the Pennington and New Milton larders as the ones seeing the greatest need.

Acknowledging “every day’s a challenge” at New Forest Basics Bank, the chairman believed the endeavour had been a success.

“The community has really been fantastic, and New Forest District Council has been particularly fantastic,” he said.

“We’ve been supported every which way but loose.”

But Mr Stanley also wants to be the first person able to close a food bank.

He added: “The food bank is very professional and great fun – it has to be professional, fun and kept fun.”

The community larders and hubs run at the following times: Pennington, 1pm-2pm on Thursdays (hub from midday to 1pm); New Milton, 9.30am-10.30am on Wednesdays; Totton, 9.30am-11.30am on Wednesdays; Calshot, 12.30pm-1.30pm on Thursdays; and Fordingbridge, 1.30pm-2.30pm on Fridays.

For more information about the food bank, visit basicsbank.org.uk