Other support and resources for HAF

Free and low cost food

Accessing Food Banks

If you feel you are struggling to put food on the table, agencies can work with you and offer support by issuing you a foodbank voucher which is the most important step to getting access to the foodbank. Agencies that can issue foodbank vouchers will include: Citizens Advice, housing support officers, children’s centres, health visitors, social services and some local charities.

Call our free national helpline

If you are in financial crisis and live in England or Wales, please call our free national helpline, Help through Hardship, on 0808 2082138 for free (open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, closed on public holidays) to talk confidentially with a trained Citizens Advice adviser. They can help address your crises and provide support to maximise your income, help you navigate the benefits system, and identify any additional grants you could be entitled to. If needed, they’ll issue you with a voucher so you can get an emergency food parcel from your local food bank.

Translators and Relay UK
Please ask the adviser if you need a translator, this will be provided via Language Line. If you can’t hear or speak on the phone you can use Relay UK.

There are seven Trussell Trust foodbanks in the county, some are now offering home delivery options and are operating an electronic referral systems. Collectively, the seven food bank’s footprint covers each region of Gloucestershire; ensuring support is available irrespective of location.

Cheltenham Food Bank

https://cheltenham.foodbank.org. uk 

Cheltenham Food Bank Main Centre

Cheltenham Elim Church, 115- 117 St George’s Road, Cheltenham, GL50 3ED Phone: 01242 570080 email: foodbank@cheltenhamelim.org

Opening times: Wednesday 11:00 – 15:00

St Paul’s Distribution Centre

St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Road, Cheltenham, GL50 4EZ

Opening times: Friday 11 – 15:00

C3 Distribution Centre

The Pavilion, Hatherley Lane, Cheltenham, GL51 6PN

Opening times: Friday 10:00 – 12:00.

Salvation Army, 39 Bath Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7HG

Opening times: Monday 11:00 – 15:00

Opening hours correct as of 31/03/2022 but please check website for any possible changes & contact the foodbank directly if necessary.

Gloucester Food Bank

https://gloucester.foodbank.org.uk

Elim Church Gloucester (collecting parcels only)

Park End Road, Gloucester GL1 5AN Phone: 01452 309683

email: info@gloucester.foodbank.org.uk 

Opening times: Thursday 10:30 – 12:30

Gloucester Food Bank (donations only)

George Whitefield Centre 107 Great Western Road, Gloucester GL1 3NF Phone: 01452 309683

Opening times: Monday, Wednesday – Friday 10:00 – 15:00.

Opening hours correct as of 31/03/2022 but please check website for any possible changes & contact the foodbank directly if necessary.

Forest of Dean: The Forest Food Bank

https://theforest.foodbank.org.uk

Phone: 07775 265263 email: info@theforest.foodbank.org.uk

With effect from March 2022 Cinderford and Coleford Distribution Centres will be open for food parcel collections.

Opening hours correct as of 31/03/2022 but please check website for any possible changes & contact the foodbank directly if necessary.

CINDERFORD

Monday's 10.00am - 12 noon

Thursday's 2.00pm - 4.00pm

VENUE

The Forest Community Church, Parragate Road, Cinderford

COLEFORD

Wednesday's 10.00am - 12 noon

VENUE

The Salvation Army, Broadwell

You will still require an e-referral from one of the following agencies:

St James Church, Bream - Claire Phillips 01594 562985, open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9am to 1pm.  Friday 9am to 3pm.

Katrina Cracknell, Forest of Dean Community Church, Cinderford.  Mobile number – 07944591112.  Open  - Tuesday and Fridays 10.00am – 12.30pm.  Closed on Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.  Urgent parcels can be requested in the evening on the above mobile number.

CCP (Green Square) Gloucestershire Community Based Support - Cinderford, Coleford and Lydney Debt, Housing, Budgeting 0300 365 2002

FODCAB - North and West Gloucestershire Citizens Advice Low Income 0300 330 9006

Salvation Army Low Income, Social Care, Debt 01594 839106

FoD Families Children's Assessment Teams Social Care 01452 426565

Chepstow and District CAP Debt Centre Debt 07539477286 https://capuk.org/i-want-help 8003280006

Age UK Community & Social Care, Legal, Housing, Financial & Social Isolation 01452 422660

Christians Against Poverty Low Income, Social Care https://capuk.org/i-want-help 07811 906 993

GDASS - Supporting victims of domestic abuse Designed to reduce the level of domestic abuse and improve the safety of victims and their families. 01452 726570
Email: support@gdass.org.uk

There are also independent food banks which you can find out about at: https://www.foodaidnetwork.org.uk/independent-foodbanks-map

If you can’t afford food, you can call 01452 527202 to speak to North & West Gloucestershire Citizens Advice, a referral agency partner of The Forest Foodbank, about getting a voucher.

Tewkesbury Food Bank

https://tewkesbury.foodbank.org.uk

76 Church Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5RX. GL20 5NA Phone: 01684 296824 email: info@tewkesbury.foodbank.org.uk

Opening times: Tuesday – Friday 09:30 – 12:30 .

Opening hours correct as of 31/03/2022 but please check website for any possible changes & contact the foodbank directly if necessary.

People who wish to apply for a foodbank voucher should contact one of the agencies listed below who will evaluate the need and will work with them to get to the root cause of the emergency and its solution. You can start by coming in to our centre (76 Church Street, Tewkesbury, GL20  5RX. Tel:  01684 296824) where you will be warmly welcomed and given advice.  Or you may contact one of our Partners to get a Foodbank Voucher before coming in. Voucher holders are:

Tewkesbury Borough Council (TBC):  01684 272035

Bromford Housing 01684 272727

Mythe Medical Practice    01684 293278

CCP (Cheltenham) 01242 228999

Citizens’ Advice Bureau: 01452 527202

Tewkesbury Drop-In Centre:  01684 299315

If you are in financial crisis and live in England or Wales, please call 0808 2082138 for free (open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm) to talk confidentially with a trained Citizens Advice adviser. They can help address your crises and provide support to maximise your income, help you navigate the benefits system, and identify any additional grants you could be entitled to. If needed, they’ll issue you with a voucher so you can get an emergency food parcel from your local food bank.

Alternatively, please call 01452 527202 to speak to North & West Gloucestershire Citizens Advice who will be able to issue you with a food bank voucher if necessary.

Stroud Food Bank

https://strouddistrict.foodbank.org. uk

Unit 19, Canal Iron Works, Hope Mills Lane, Brimscombe, Stroud GL5 2SH Phone: 01453 367077 office@strouddistrictfoodbank.org.uk

We are very much open and able to help everyone who's been referred with a voucher to the food bank, but via delivery not at a centre.

If you have been referred, we'll contact you to arrange a delivery and talk to you about any dietary needs.

Stroud have various delivery sites with varying delivery times; please use the link to locate your area:

https:// strouddistrict.foodbank.org.uk/ locations/   

You will need to be given a Foodbank Voucher by a referring agency in order to access this support. Your child’s school or your doctor’s surgery will be able to help with this. Alternatively P3 Charity or Citizen’s Advice can refer.

North Cotswolds Food Bank

https://northcotswold.foodbank.org.uk/

Unit 2, Glebe Farm Buildings, Guiting Power, Cheltenham, GL54 1JB Phone: 07879 375562 email: info@northcotswold.foodbank.org.uk

North Cotswolds have various delivery sites with varying delivery times; use the link to locate your area: https://northcotswold.foodbank.org.uk/locations/

You will need to be given a Foodbank Voucher by a referring agency in order to access this support. Your child’s school or your doctor’s surgery will be able to help with this. Alternatively P3 Charity or Citizen’s Advice can refer. Call or email the foodbank – they can talk through your situation and put you in touch with a relevant agency.

Cirencester Food Bank with Fairford and Tetbury

https://cirencester.foodbank.org.uk

c/o Cirencester Baptist Church, Chesterton Lane, Cirencester GL7 1YE   Phone: 01285 896360 email: info@cirencester.foodbank.org.uk

Currently operating a delivery service due to the pandemic.

Cirencester, Tetbury and Fairford have various delivery sites with varying delivery times; use the link to locate your area: https:// cirencester.foodbank.org.uk/ locations/

You will need a Foodbank Voucher to access this support.

Our foodbank works with a number of different agencies, such as Citizens Advice, children’s centres and health visitors. To find out more about the agencies that hold our vouchers and how you can get help, please contact us.

By contacting the telephone number above the Foodbank can help you find local agencies to provide this to you.

Independent Food Banks and Organisations

There are also some independent food banks and organisations in the county that can offer support with food, including:

Hungry no More (Churchdown) – independent food bank: Hungry no more operate from the gl3 hub in churchdown. We are open on a Thursday morning  for food parcels. We are a food bank helping and supporting our local community in Churchdown and the surrounding area: https://www.neighbourly.com/project/5f8d6efa5f75b0a821b3b470

Pantry Project (Cheltenham)

– offers discounted, nutritious food boxes, with the option of fresh meat, fruit and vegetables: https://www.ccp.org.uk/pantry

The Lord’s Larder (Newent) – independent food bank: The Lord's Larder Food Bank, which now services the Forest of Dean, Newent, Leadon Vale and West of Severn areas, was conceived to provide short-term access to basic food and toiletries: http://thelordslarder.org.uk/

Wiggly Worm (Cheltenham)

- offers discounted, hot and nutritious meals with a fresh piece of fruit to those who need it most. In addition, Wiggly Worm champions food to promote physical and mental well-being, via cooking clubs, health and education projects, kitchen challenges and more: https://www.thewigglyworm.org.uk/