Leeds South & East foodbank

YORhub conference supporting charity

Leeds South & East Foodbank is part of The Trussell Trust’s network of 428 foodbanks, working to tackle food poverty and hunger in our local communities as well as across the UK.

The foodbank started in October 2013 with one distribution centre which has now increased to ten within South and East Leeds.

Every day people in the UK go hungry for reasons ranging from redundancy to receiving an unexpected bill on a low income.

A simple box of food makes a big difference, with foodbanks helping prevent crime, housing loss, family breakdown and mental health problems.

Leeds South & East Foodbank has seen a huge increase in demand recently. In the last two years the number of people relying on it for a food parcel has increased by 54%, and 40% of the people supported in Leeds in 2023-24 were children.

YORhub is pleased to support this important cause at our 2024 conference.

How you can help

Leeds South & East Foodbank relies on public goodwill and support, with over 90% of the food it distributes being donated by the general public.

This year we are pleased to support the foodbank as part of our event, and have arranged a collection point for donations of non-perishable food items at the venue.

If you would like to support the charity, please bring your food donation to the conference. The foodbank is currently in urgent need of the following items:

UHT Milk

Tinned Tomatoes

Tinned/Packet Custard

Long Life/Dilute Juice

Soup

More details can be found on the charity’s website.

How foodbanks work

Food is donated

Schools, churches, businesses and individuals donate non-perishable, in-date food to a foodbank. Large collections often take place as part of Harvest Festival celebrations and food is also collected at supermarkets.

Food is sorted and stored

Volunteers sort food to check that it’s in date and pack it into boxes ready to be given to people in need. Over 40,000 people give up their time to volunteer at foodbanks.

Professionals identify people in need

Foodbanks partner with a wide range of care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers and police to identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher.

Clients receive food

Foodbank clients bring their voucher to a foodbank centre where it can be redeemed for three days’ emergency food. Volunteers meet clients over a warm drink or free hot meal and are able to signpost people to agencies able to solve the longer-term problem.