Coronavirus - guidance for foodbanks

24 March - 11.45am

We are aware that a number of our churches host foodbanks or other services for vulnerable people.

The Government guidelines state they may remain open as their work qualifies them as key workers caring for the vulnerable:

Facilities may remain open for the purpose of hosting essential voluntary or public services, such as food banks or homeless services. We will do everything to support vulnerable people who are without a network of friends and families.

The Trussell Trust has more information for what this means in practice.

It states:

Social distancing rules means making sure volunteers who are classed as ‘at risk’ because they are over 70 or have a health condition stay at home.

It means making sure there are hand-washing facilities in any centre people are in, and everyone is encouraged to wash their hands.

It also means making big changes to the way centres work, to limit contact between people. This will look different in different centres, but it might mean:

• Instead of being invited into a centre, people referred are immediately given a pre-packed food bank parcel in a practical, dignified and compassionate manner
• Ensuring that wherever people are waiting, there is a large enough space for people to wait at least two metres apart
• A reduced number of food bank sessions per week
• Coordination with local agencies to give them pre-packed food bank parcels, or to deliver to people those agencies work with

For more on foodbanks, visit the Trussell Trust website.