Lidl Castleford

We are an independent foodbank who provide food and other essential items to people in the Castleford area. We provide on average 25 food parcels a week feeding 50-60 people The food we provide include many essentials like bread, milk, tinned vegetables and meat or fish. We also include toiletries and the all important toilet roll. Within the parcel we aim to provide enough food for a minimum of 3 days whether its an individual, a couple or a family of 4 or more. We provide each person with 3 parcels a year and limit them to 1 a month however if we know a family is in need we will give them more. At Christmas we work with local schools to provide Christmas hampers to families who may have to go without the little luxuries we enjoy. Over the last 5 years we have given out over 55 hampers every year. In these hampers we pride ourselves in providing everything but the turkey. Each child in the family receives a gift wrapped selection box and each parent / carer a box of chocolates. Also in the hampers are boxes of biscuits, cheese biscuits, mince pies, and fresh fruit and vegetables. The hampers are gift wrapped and delivered to their door.

Our group started by feeding the local community back in October 2022 by offering them a free hot breakfast and a warm space. This has grown significantly since then and now we have up to 50 people per week who use the breakfast service and since July 2023 we offer a food pantry. There is a significant need for this in our local area and we have partnered up with lots of local supermarkets and small businesses who donate surplus food on a weekly basis towards this good cause. Other businesses on board who donate to us are Asda, Morrisons, CO-OP, Booker Catering, Makro, Warburtons, Tesco, KFC, Nando's and Fareshare. The food pantry figures currently stand at around 150-200 individuals/ households accessing food per week. We are a not for profit organisation and a no referral service so that we are accessible to all. We ask all users of the food pantry to queue up when we open which is currently twice a week and take a share of the surplus food provided. We also work with other agencies such as sheltered housing, the local council who signpost individuals who they think need help with food to us. We operate from a small church in Castleford called Cutsyke Christian Church, WF10 5HA. The breakfast we provide is a full cooked breakfast and is served on a Friday morning between 0930-1030am before the food pantry, Alongside this in the School Holidays we provide free packed lunches for any children who may need them, this is facilitated by Morrisons mostly who donate towards this. If we receive large surplus donations of certain foods we cook this into meals and hand it out at the food pantry. We do this more in the winter months when the temperatures are a lot colder. At Christmas every year we also provide a 3 course meal for a small charge of £2 for anyone who is wanting to join in the festivities. We work closely along side the local council and the services they offer to their tenants and the local community. Recently we have had Cash Wise come into the pantry and do a 'pop up stall' offering advice to anyone attending about benefits, bills etc. We also signpost if applicable to the individual to Citizens Advice, local housing options for homeless/ rough sleepers and Age UK as we have a proportion of the users of the pantry in this demographic. Most recently we have had Spectrum Health come into the pantry making sure everyone has a local GP and they can help with testing of certain infections and can help with dental care too. We have also recently has a local Scouts Group come in and help us as part of their food poverty badge, they spent the afternoon with us one Sunday sorting and organising the food ready for when the food pantry opened. We have got the local councillors on board who visit us frequently who are in favour of what we are providing in the community and would gladly be able to provide references if requested,

We provide hot meals, food parcels, clean clothing alongside support and advice. Our aim is to help those in the wider community who may be marginalised or isolated. Please visit our website for more info. www.trinitymission.org.uk