A Local Foodbank Supported by the Community

Food Banks serve as the essential lifeline for communities, providing support to some of the UK’s most vulnerable individuals without requiring proof of hardship or meeting specific thresholds.

Southwark Foodbank, located on Peckham High Street and operated by Pecan, exemplifies this mission. However, in September, the foodbank faced a devastating setback when it became the target of a burglary. 

Thieves made off with over £3,000 worth of food and hygiene products, along with a laptop, leaving the organisation in disarray. The break-in also resulted in significant damage to the warehouse where donations were stored, further complicating their efforts to assist those in need.

“There was a surge of public support from individuals, from businesses. The local authority was a great help as well as Trussell.” says Peter Edwards, CEO of Pecan. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales, who gave £3,000 of their own funds to the foodbank, were joined in support from Tesco, Morrisons, Southwark Council, Miatta Fahnbulleh, MP for Peckham, Bromley Foodbank, and numerous other organisations. The backing provided by Trussell, which helped to establish the foodbank, was also instrumental in their recovery following the break-in.

Watch the video to learn more about how the community came together to support a local food bank. 

Charity Check-in

At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article. 

The Trussell Trust. This is a UK anti-poverty charity and food banks. We work together to ensure no one in the UK needs a food bank to survive, while providing food and practical support to people left without enough money to live on. Find out more.

Pecan. This charity focuses on community development in Peckham that has supported thousands over 30 years, including ex-offenders, refugees, and the long-term unemployed, by helping them overcome barriers to a better future. Learn more here.

The Felix Project. They collect fresh, nutritious food that cannot be sold and deliver this surplus food to charities and schools. Support them here.

This article aligns with the UN SDG No Poverty, Zero Hunger.