Behind every decision that shapes our work is a group of trustees who give their time, experience and judgement to guide North Bristol & South Glos Foodbank. They help make sure we stay focused on our mission, use our resources responsibly, and keep asking the hard questions about how we support people facing hunger locally. In this series, we’re introducing you to the people behind that role. Each trustee brings their own story, perspective and reasons for getting involved, but they share the same commitment: that nobody in our community should have to face hunger alone.
In this fourth post in the series, we meet Tony, a Horfield resident who co-founded the Foodbank alongside Ebenezer Church in 2012 as pastor of Filton Community Church. He also ran Revive Charity Shop in Filton, and today serves as a trustee of both NBSG Foodbank and Concord Church.
In 2012 Stewart North and I were both leading local churches. We discovered through our community involvement that increasing numbers of people were struggling and often unable to get sufficient food for themselves and their families. As a result, together with our churches, we began North Bristol Foodbank as part of the Trussell network. We provided food and signposted to services such as debt advice or family support. Our hope back then was that such a need would be short-lived, but now we know that is not so.
We have now developed into North Bristol & South Gloucestershire Foodbank with nine outlets accessed through a network of referral agencies. I am now retired but remain a trustee of the charity along with seven others. Together we guide, oversee, help develop and encourage the wonderful staff team and an incredible network of volunteers and supporters.
Looking back, one of the biggest differences since those early years is who we see coming through the door. Initially most clients were out of work for a variety of reasons, but more recently very many are in work, yet, because of the steadily increasing cost of living, insufficient support or family breakdown, they still find themselves in need of practical help.
We are currently taking steps to strengthen our referral processes and further develop our support and advice services. Along with the whole wider team, I am well aware that food banks are not a long-term solution, and so we work toward helping people reduce their reliance on them. The vision is for a UK without the need for food banks, and I really enjoy working with others toward that end.
