Sainsbury's Maypole

TOGETHER WE CAN HELP STOP HUNGER From donating food, volunteering your time or taking on an exciting fundraising challenge, there are lots of ways to get involved with raising awareness of poverty and helping stop UK hunger. Working together is the only way to end hunger. We’ve built many partnerships to pursue new and better approaches, accelerate the success of our programs, and get food and resources to those who need them most. Our motivation is derived from the fact that more than a quarter of a million people are homeless in England (BBC). The figures show homelessness hotspots outside London, with high rates in Birmingham, Brighton and Luton. To continue with our organisational mission of reaching out to those needing help the most; and practicing “charity begins at home”, we started food distribution drive in Birmingham. Although the government says that it is investing £500m in homelessness we still come across quite a large number of people needing their food supplies on daily basis. Although the projects UKCAB runs, coordinate in improving the community development pace by offering free education which will enable people to gain skills and avoid homelessness by getting jobs or starting their own businesses, we witness people who are in dire need of basic necessities to survive.

We help individuals and families in a deprived area of South East Birmingham through provision of food, empowerment and providing a safe place to meet and socialize. We assist people through issues such as debt and housing matters and aspects relating to deprivation. We help people to tackle issues of loneliness and isolation, lack of opportunity, poor diet and health problems. Our food bank provides food for people in crisis and links them to appropriate local services. Our Lighthouse group is an informal 'drop-in', providing hospitality, a place to chat, make friends, play games, create handicrafts and enjoy a free lunch. Our Yardley Wood Pantry is a new community food initiative (launching in October 2019) to benefit low-income households in the surrounding area. In exchange for a weekly £3.50 membership fee, a member can choose ten food items from the Pantry shop (based at Yardley Wood Baptist Church) – including a variety of groceries, fresh fruit and vegetables, frozen and refrigerated foods, as well as tinned and packet foods – that would have a retail value of around £20. The Pantry is a project that is so much more than being about food. In consultation with Pantry members and other organisations in the local community, we aim to further benefit members and the wider community by creating supporting projects around the Pantry such as: Money and Debt advice, Job Club, Community Café, Parent/toddler groups and clubs providing food and activities for children during school holidays. We aim to bring community together and encourage the talents, gifts and strengths of people in the community. Our aim is to continually listen to our local community and involve people in the community as much as possible in the running of the projects and how they function. Much of what we do revolves around food. People can help by donating money, food (tins, packets, fruit and veg) and household items to support our projects.

We are a community center located in the Billesley area of South Birmingham, open to the public from Monday to Friday. Our mission is to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all community members to enjoy. We offer a diverse range of activities and groups, alongside services managed by our dedicated volunteers. Our volunteers operate a weekly Food Pantry, Lunch Club, and Café to support the local community with the rising cost of living. They diligently sort and prepare food parcels and meals, ensuring consistent food provision. Each week, we serve our community by offering a variety of warm and welcoming services. During our food pantry sessions, community members can also access other essential items, such as clothing, shoes, and books, at no cost. Simply take what you need. Through our collaboration with Neighbourly food collections, we are proud to host a Community Surplus Day, which has greatly benefited our community. We remain committed to enhancing our services and facilities by utilizing surplus collections to support the community. Billesley Ark Volunteers is comprised of local residents committed to helping and supporting the community. Established in 2018 by the Malachi Community Trust, BAV was created as part of a pledge to Birmingham City Council to empower local residents to transition from service users to service providers within their own community.