'Lifeline' foodbank struggling amid drop in donations

Asia Khogali, 51, visits the foodbank in The Meadows twice a month

Services at a Nottingham foodbank are being stretched as "less and less" food is coming in, says an organiser.

John Roskalns, the manager at Meadows Foodbank, said 6,682kg of food was donated this year, a drop of 3,000kg from 2022.

But he says the number of people accessing the foodbank has increased in the last year, with 17,138kg of food being handed out to families.

One of its users, who came to the Bridgeway Hall Methodist Centre on Friday, had described the foodbank as a "lifeline".

Foodbank user Henry Paul says being surrounded by people at the centre is good for his mental health

Henry Paul, who is homeless, has been using the foodbank for the last 10 years.

"It's definitely a lifeline. Without this place I wouldn't know what to do," the 55-year-old said.

Users can obtain a food voucher from a support organisation, such as Citizens Advice and Meadows Advice Group.

But it is not just the food that makes people like Mr Paul come to the centre every month.

"[I'm] definitely getting to know people and they get to know you, and what kind of person you are," he added.

"It's very good for the community, it's very good for my mental health."

Asia Khogali, a mum of four from the area, has also been a regular at the foodbank for three years.

"I feel comfortable when I come here," the 52-year-old said.

"[Shops] are very expensive now. You can't get 10 things for £5."

The centre is open for food vouchers on Friday, Saturday and Tuesday evening

Mr Roskalns, who has been at the helm for eight years, believes a shift in shopping habits has had an impact on the number of donations ending up in the foodbank.

He said: "Lots of people have found it more difficult but we collect from Sainsbury's and Waitrose every week and I've seen those particular donations going down really drastically. And I wonder if it's to do with people shopping online now.

"If you're ordering online, I don't think there's any facility to actually add something on for the foodbank. But I'm sure that's had a big effect."

Donna Cumberlidge, chief officer at Citizens Advice in Nottingham, said donations were "absolutely essential" to keep foodbanks going.

"While people continue to live in really challenging times, struggling to meet most basic needs such as food and energy, publicity and awareness may have dropped off therefore foodbank donations may have dropped off," she added.

"Without people supporting foodbanks with donations of food and money and the hard work of their volunteers our community would be facing even tougher times."

Meadows Foodbank, which hands out 50 food parcels a week, has permanent collection points in Sainsbury’s Castle Marina and Waitrose in Milton Street.

Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.