How to get Help from the foodbank

You can find a map of the areas we cover on the Areas we cover page

If you have no money for food, you’re skipping meals so your family can eat, have had a large unexpected bill or you’re choosing between paying bills, heating your home or feeding yourself and/or your family, you may be able to get a voucher to visit the foodbank. With the current cost of living crisis it is more important than ever to make sure you use the many local services, and a foodbank voucher is just one option available to you.

For people who have some money, or if  you do not qualify for a voucher, The Bridge at Leigh are a great option for you. They provide a good selection of top quality food at extremely low prices. 

please click – The Bridge at Leigh  Facebook group for more information

You can also visit our #MoreThanFood – Help with the cost of living page to find lots of advice on what help is available to everyone in the country. 

The most important step is to get a foodbank voucher.

In order to provide the most appropriate help for the circumstances of your situation we work with lots of local agencies and organisations that can issue a foodbank voucher, including Wigan Council, Citizens Advice, lots of schools, GP’s, health visitors, social workers, The Job Centre, plus many more. Assessments are usually quick and will react to your situation. They can also provide long term support if needed to help address some of the issues behind the reasons for your crisis.

When you visit/contact a referral agency they will take some basic details from you to complete the voucher. This will help them to identify the cause of your crisis and offer practical guidance. It also means we are able to prepare suitable emergency food for the right number of people.

Once you have been issued with a voucher, in the form of a red card or a reference number, you can exchange this for a minimum of three days of emergency food at your nearest foodbank centre. Agencies we work with include: Citizens Advice, housing support officers, children’s centres, health visitors, social services, most local schools, local job centres and some local charities. (If you are an agency or organisation that meets people facing hardship, and would like to become a registered voucher holder for our foodbank, please contact Helen to find out more)

if you are issued with a voucher we request that you bring your shopping bags or bags for life with you. If you do not have any some will be provided but we now have to pay for them so it is better if you can bring some please.

It is now possible to apply for a foodbank voucher online!
This is great as it opens up the foodbank to people who are not under a service and saves a trip out.

Our choice right now –
contact Citizens Advice Wigan Borough(CAWB) for free help and support with benefits, debt, money management and to apply for a voucher, by visiting their ‘home page’ and clicking ‘Contact’ at the top of the page, then choosing the best option for you.

or

by calling 0808 2787 801 for free or 01942709709(local call rate)  – Monday – Friday from 1pm – 5pm

 To apply to Wigan council for a foodbank voucher you must fill in the council welfare support form and they will give you a decision, usually, within a couple of hours. 

Click HERE for Wigan Council Welfare support form

If you do not have access to online please go to the library, where you can use the computers or ask for help to apply. – If the library is closed or you can not access the online form ring the number below 

Wigan council welfare support telephone number – 01942705221

For benefits issues or advice please speak to Leigh Job centre

If you have benefits issues ring – 01942263770

For benefits advice you can ring – 01942489018

If you dont manage to get a voucher in any of the above ways –

1. Get in touch with us.

If you call or email our foodbank we can talk through your situation and put you in touch with a relevant local agency.

2. Arrange a visit to the referral agency.

They will discuss your situation and supply you with a foodbank voucher where appropriate.

 

Once you have been issued one, bring  your foodbank voucher to your nearest foodbank centre.

A voucher can be a card or a reference number
You can find a list of our local centres and opening times by tapping – here.

When you arrive, you will receive a warm welcome from our friendly volunteers, who will show you to table in our ‘cafe’ area. We’ll discuss any dietary needs you may have then exchange your foodbank voucher for a parcel of three days of emergency food. We’ll also help to support you in any other ways that we can. Usually our foodbank centres offer a cafe style environment, usually with a free drink of your choice,  and our aim is to provide non-judgemental support at the point of crisis.

If you have any further questions our FAQ’s page may help, or feel free to give us a call.

 

All data collected is kept in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018.
you can find out how we hold and protect data on our Privacy policy page.

 

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