Many who have never been in 'food poverty' before find this situation very difficult, embarrassing and demeaning. LFB volunteers are excellent in warmly welcoming them, along with more established clients, with kindness, discretion and care.
Clients continue to make good use of the help and support offered by workers from CASES, who are now well established, when our Distribution Centres are open. The 'Engagement of the Community Programme', devised to make the most of Trussell's investment, is becoming established and, alongside the CASES work, has shown an improvement in signposting to clients who receive the type of assistance that ultimately moves them towards no longer needing our support
On occasion, when needed, we support other foodbanks, such as Tamworth and Erdington, by giving them our excess stock. This ensures that food is not wasted, but used elsewhere.
In the period just before Christmas meat vouchers were issued and very well received by clients. We intend, finances allowing, to extend this practice at random times during the year in order to avoid dependency. This should give clients greater choice and access to fresh food.
In the summer Lichfield foodbank's Chair of Operations, Verity Ashley, left us. We thank her for her energetic and creative input to the workings of Lichfield foodbank and we wish her well on her travels. The Trustees feel very thankful that we were able to secure Daniel Pannell to replace Verity and they made the best of their crossover period. This ensured that Dan was given a first hand insight into the role as well as continuity for volunteers and clients. Dan has already discussed and established many new ideas and initiatives and has rapidly become part of the Team. He is continuing to work around his very busy 'day' job in order to meet everyone in the different sections of Lichfield foodbank.
Lichfield foodbank would not function without its volunteers. In all sections of Lichfield 8 Lichfield foodbank: charity number 1162359 foodbank our volunteers give a great deal of time and commitment to their roles. In their teams they operate very effectively, with care and commitment, to give their clients an experience which values their autonomy and dignity. A number of volunteers, both new and established, have taken on new leadership roles. This is beginning to have a positive effect on Lichfield foodbank's relationships with Agencies; the management of donations and the running of the Warehouse and Distribution Centres. This will, in turn, have an impact on the quality of the experience our clients receive. As a result of the departure of some volunteers over this year, we are endeavouring to recruit new volunteers to roles in all sections of the Foodbank, including Trustees. We are currently advertising on social media and our website, as well as word-of-mouth, to this end. We hope an increase in new volunteers will be a positive factor in Lichfield foodbank’s current year. Lichfield foodbank greatly values its volunteers and thanks them for another year of the hard work and commitment they generously give on behalf of the people of Lichfield.
Hilary Dunphy Chair of Trustees