When illness struck and her surgery was repeatedly postponed, one of our food bank clients found herself facing an impossible situation. Unable to work and ineligible for statutory sick pay, she watched helplessly as rent, energy and water arrears mounted whilst her ability to afford even basic food disappeared.
Like many people in crisis, she turned to North Bristol & South Glos Foodbank for emergency food support. But what happened next demonstrates the power of our joined-up approach to tackling the root causes of food insecurity.
At our food bank outlet, she met Kate, one of the Citizens Advice advisers we host to provide specialist support on money matters. This partnership means our clients can access expert advice right where they collect their emergency food parcels, removing barriers and ensuring people get the comprehensive help they need when they’re already at their most vulnerable.
Kate worked with the client to navigate the Household Support Fund application process, securing not just £180 in vouchers but also a replacement cooker. For someone whose existing cooker had broken down to just one working hob and an oven, this practical support was transformational.
“I like to cook my own food but my cooker wasn’t working,” the client explained. “Within a week of speaking with Kate, I got a call from someone saying ‘we are ready to deliver your cooker – when do you want it?’. I couldn’t believe it.”
The impact went far beyond the practical help. “Kate has been brilliant. I can’t thank her enough – I am really thankful. It brings you confidence in humanity,” she said. “I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
This success story perfectly illustrates why we provide more than emergency food at our outlets. By hosting Citizens Advice specialists like Kate, we ensure people facing crisis can access the expert support they need to address the underlying causes of their hardship, all under one roof, in a trusted space where they already feel comfortable seeking help.
It’s partnerships like this that help transform emergency food provision into a pathway towards longer-term stability, dignity and hope.
