Food Vouc
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The referral system ensures you are provided with the right help and support for you.
How to get a food voucher?
In order to get help from the food bank you will need to be referred with a voucher.
Referral process
Each food bank works with different frontline professionals, like doctors, health visitors, social workers, and Citizens Advice. These professionals will be able to refer you to a food bank and give you a food bank voucher if they think you need emergency food.
The food bank and referral agency will use this voucher to gather some basic information about you. This will help them to understand why you need support and offer practical guidance, and the right emergency food.
Using your voucher
Once you have been given a voucher, you can exchange this for a minimum of three days’ emergency food at your nearest food bank centre.
What’s in a food parcel?
We’ve worked with nutritionists to make sure that the food parcels supplied by food banks in our network contain at least three days’ worth of nutritionally balanced meals for individuals and families. These emergency food parcels are not designed to meet long-term need – that’s why food banks also offer additional support like debt advice where possible.
A typical food parcel includes:
- Cereal
- Soup
- Pasta
- Rice
- Tinned tomatoes/ pasta sauce
- Lentils, beans and pulses
- Tinned meat
- Tinned vegetables
- Tea/coffee
- Tinned fruit
- Biscuits
- UHT milk
- Fruit juice
Food banks will also provide essential non-food items like toiletries and hygiene products where they can.
Dietary requirements
When visiting a food bank centre, one of the volunteers will run through the food parcel packing list with you to check any special dietary requirements that you may have.
If they have the facilities to do so, some food banks can also provide fresh food. Please get in touch with your local foodbank to find out more.
If you’re organising a collection for your local food bank, please check with them first to see which items they are currently in need of.
Visiting a food bank
Visiting a food bank might seem daunting, but you’ll get a warm welcome in a safe environment, a listening ear from trained volunteers, and a food parcel.
Meeting your needs
To make sure that you are provided with a food parcel that meets your needs, you’ll be asked for your food bank voucher. Our volunteers will then use your voucher to check the number of adults and children the food parcel needs to support, the ages of children, and any special dietary requirements you may have.
Preparing your food parcel
Whilst your food parcel is being prepared, a volunteer will chat to you about your situation and point you to further support if they can, like a local debt advice service
Your food will be packed in supermarket carrier bags – the food bank will supply these, but if you’d prefer to bring your own, these can be used instead.
Practical guidance and support
Food bank volunteers are there to help. They will take the time to listen and make sure you feel comfortable during your visit to the food bank. They are specially trained to identify and offer practical guidance to help tackle the reasons for your referral to the food bank and will work with you to make sure you have access to the support you need.