What is a foodbank?
Non-perishable, in-date food is donated by the public at a range of places, such as schools, churches, and businesses, as well as supermarket collection points. It is then sorted into emergency food parcels by more than 28,000 volunteers, to be given to people in crisis.
Foodbanks work with frontline professionals to identify people who need support and give them a foodbank voucher.
What is a food voucher?
Care professionals such as health visitors, staff at schools and social workers identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher. This means people can receive a food bank parcel of three days’ nutritionally balanced, non-perishable food from their local or chosen Foodbank.
Leeds Beckett Students’ Union Advice Service is a Foodbank Referral Centre. This means that we can issue a Foodbank Voucher to any students that present to us in need. We are not in control of what food supplies you get or how much food you get or the days the foodbank is open for collection.
Once someone has been referred, they can exchange their voucher at their nearest food bank for an emergency food parcel containing a minimum of three days’ nutritionally balanced food.
Food banks are designed to provide short-term, emergency support with food during a crisis. They aim to relieve that immediate pressure by providing food.
Foodbanks provide a minimum of three days’ emergency food to people in crisis. Each person is limited to 3 Foodbank Vouchers over a 6-month period. This means that it is just a short-term solution to what could be a longer term issue.
You can find out more information here: https://www.trusselltrust.org/what-we-do/how-foodbanks-work/
Further Support
You should disclose your circumstances to the LBSU Advice Service so that we can provide any further support & guidance or signpost you to other support agencies.
All students who enquire about the foodbank will also be directed to contact Leeds Becketts Money Advice Team: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/student-information/money-advice/ to see if there is any further support available from the university.
Requesting a Foodbank Voucher from LBSU Advice Service
If you want to request a Foodbank Voucher, then please fill out this form. Once you have filled in this form the SU Advice Service will then email you your voucher along with any other relevant information.
Please note you cannot get food from a foodbank without a voucher.