About

We are a Trussell food bank based in the centre of Birmingham. We distribute emergency food parcels to local people who are facing hardship, providing people with 3 days of essential food and a range of toiletries. We are open two days a week and operate out of the café space at Birmingham City Church, providing a safe and supportive environment where our clients can access vital support.

Beyond immediate relief, we also connect individuals with expert support through advisors from Birmingham Settlement and Birmingham MIND, addressing challenges like debt, benefits, housing, and mental health. We serve hot drinks and biscuits to people who come in and use our Foodbank, and our volunteers are always happy to have a chat and provide a listening ear. We are also able to support our clients with crucial essentials like mobile phones, sim cards, and single-day bus passes.

Our Foodbank operates through a voucher referral system, allowing us to efficiently support those identified by trusted local agencies. We collaborate with a broad range of partners, including the City Council, Citizens Advice, schools, housing associations, the Refugee and Migrant Centre, and the Drug and Alcohol Service, who refer individuals and families in need. While referrals are typically required, we understand that unforeseen circumstances can arise. Therefore, we provide self-referrals for first-time users and those facing urgent hardship, ensuring no one is turned away in a crisis.

We operate as part of Birmingham City Church, and as a Christian charity aim to follow Jesus’s example by sharing love and practical support with local people in need. Our Charity Number is 251549. We are part of the wider charity of Elim Churches, but have a separate foodbank bank account, and all donations of food or money received are used only for our Foodbank purposes.

Our Vision:

As a Foodbank our vision is to share God’s love by feeding the hungry, meeting people’s needs, and building community. Inspired by Matthew 25:35-36.

Our Missions:

• To provide essential food and toiletries to any and all local people facing hardship
• To provide a dignified and caring experience for people using our Foodbank
• To provide support without judgement, no matter how someone presents themselves to us
• To work closely with local agencies to identify and support those facing hardship
• To equip people to improve their situation and long-term outcomes
• To listen and be guided by those with lived experience of poverty
• To campaign for policy changes to reduce the number of people needing to use food banks