Guernsey charity opens new food bank on the Bridge

Guernsey Welfare Service has partnered with The Rock Community Church to open the food bank

A new food bank has been opened in St Sampson by a local charity, after it found the area needed more support.

The food bank would open between 09:00 and 13:00 every Tuesday and would operate for a one-year trial period, managers said.

The Guernsey Welfare Service (GWS) has partnered with the Rock Community Church to set up the service.

Sue Le Friec, from GWS, said the food bank would help people who "find it difficult to get into Town, particularly the elderly or those with young children who might find the bus trip and subsequent uphill walk challenging".

'Not managing to survive'

She said: "Sadly, the demand on the foodbank is increasing and we want to be available and inclusive to all who might need our assistance."

Susie Glegg, welfare officer for the charity, said their existing food bank in St Peter Port was used by more than 700 households last year.

Mrs Glegg said: "What we are actually finding is that people our accessing our services more often.

"So, we have had a little bit of an increase of people who are coming to us but they are coming more often, because they are not managing to survive on what they've got."

Phil Baldock, team co-ordinator for the church, said: "As a church, we are committed to serving the local community around us, having an impact and helping to meet the needs that people have.

"The Guernsey Welfare Service are already doing an amazing job providing services to the wider Guernsey community and, in partnering with them, we are excited about the opportunity for these services to be accessed by more people."