‘Vital’ Stroud Green foodbank may close
Foodbank volunteers packing food for hungry residents. Picture: David Jones - Credit: PA Wire/Press Association Images
A foodbank centre may be forced to close, after losing support from charity the Trussell Trust
The centre, which runs from Holy Trinity Church in Stroud Green, describes itself as a “vital support mechanism for people in crisis in the community”.
It receives support and resources from the Trussell Trust as part of Haringey Foodbank.
Catherine West, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, wrote to the Trussell Trust to express her concerns.
“As the Member of Parliament for this area, I know only too well that this service is much needed and well-supported,” she said.
“It opens every Sunday from 1.30-3.30pm and during the past year has provided food for 334 local people thanks to over 300 hours of volunteer time. Over the coming year they expected to reach over 500 people.”
The Trussell Trust decided to withdraw support after the centre failed quality assurance tests, although they have yet to clarify what these tests are.
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A Trussell Trust spokeswoman said: “After carrying out quality assurance visits at the Stroud Green centre, it became clear that this foodbank distribution centre is operating a different kind of support to that usually provided by Trussell Trust foodbanks.
“We recognise that there are alternative models of foodbank that can work well, however we are unable to support a project that is operating so differently to our best practice.
“Having spoken with volunteers at the Stroud Green centre, we offered to either help them align their processes with the other centres operated by Haringey foodbank, or to support them in a transition period towards independence from Haringey foodbank.
“Either way, The Trussell Trust has not asked for the centre to close, as we recognise the need for emergency food is a very real one.”
- If you are affected by the potential closure, please contact anna.behrmann@archant.co.uk.
- For the full story, please see this week’s Broadway edition.
