Supporting Others

In Liverpool, there are over 70 Emergency Food Providers, supplying over 2,100 food parcels each week to those who are in a crisis.

The number of people relying on Emergency Food Providers has grown; more than ever before, people are needing to use them to fill the gaps as they struggle to make ends meet. Every day, people struggle due to reasons ranging from redundancy to receiving an unexpected bill on a low income.

Emergency Food Providers play a vital role in helping those who are experiencing a crisis to access short-term emergency food support, whilst also directing them to services offering longer term support.

Feeding Liverpool works with a range of different Emergency Food Providers, such as foodbanks and crisis meal providers.

Please see below for some of the Emergency Food Providers in Liverpool.

What is a foodbank?

Foodbanks believe that no one should go hungry. They give out free, nutritionally-balanced emergency food parcels to support people over a couple of days.

They also often offer advice to help people maximise their incomes, as well as practical support to people in crisis which helps to tackle the root causes of poverty. Many emergency food providers, therefore, signpost people to other help such as employment support services, housing support, welfare support and money advice.

How do foodbanks work?

Food is donated by a range of different organisations and individuals.

Food is sorted and packed by volunteers or staff.

People in a crisis are either referred by professionals or self-refer to receive food support.

People collect their food parcel from a local foodbank

Some emergency food providers require people to have been referred by a referral agency before they use their services, such as Citizens Advice Liverpool, a GP, a health visitor or a social worker.

If you would like to sign up as a referral agency, please contact either South Liverpool Foodbank or North Liverpool Foodbank.

Other emergency food providers are open to anybody in need and operate on a self-referral model, such as Micah Liverpool and Ibijoke Children’s Foundation.

Contact the Help Through Hardship Line on 0808 208 2138 if you are unsure on where to get a voucher from. They also offer wider support and an over-the-phone benefits check.

What food is provided?

Emergency food providers give out various food items such as tinned soups, rice and pasta. Some also provide fresh fruit and vegetables. Although there may be different items available each week depending on what has been donated, they always provide staple items.

Emergency food providers try to make sure they give people a nutritious and balanced food parcel. Food parcels do vary in size depending on the organisation but many provide three days worth of food for a household.

Some emergency food providers may also give out extra items such as toilet roll, toothpaste and nappies. These items can also change each week depending on what has been donated.

When should emergency food support be used?

Emergency food support is not a long-term solution when it comes to people who do not have enough money to afford a healthy and adequate standard of living. Instead, it should be used as a ‘last resort’, accompanying other forms of support which address the root cause of the problem.

If people are experiencing a crisis and need short-term emergency food in order to ensure their household can eat, they should visit their local foodbank/crisis meal provider alongside seeking further appropriate crisis support such as housing, welfare, employment or money advice.

If people are not in an emergency crisis but need regular support with their weekly food shop, a community food space – such as a pantry or community food hub – may be more suited to them. Please click here for more information on Community Food Spaces.

Beyond food support

If you are working with someone who is in a crisis, there are a range of different organisations across the city that can provide support:

For advice and support regarding benefits managed by the council and it’s partners, as well as support and local hardship schemes for vulnerable and struggling individuals, click here
LCVS has compiled a list of useful services and resources for individuals in Liverpool regarding the ongoing Cost of Living Crisis
The Liverpool Citizen Support Scheme allows those in a crisis to apply for support in order to access food and other necessities
Citizens Advice Liverpool also has a wider range of ways to support people, from employment advice to debt advice

Emergency food providers in Liverpool

There are lots of emergency food providers located around the city to help support people, including:

North Liverpool Foodbank Network

In order to obtain a voucher or voucher code, you will need to go through the usual support agencies such as Citizens Advice Liverpool, your GP, a health visitor or a social worker. Details about each foodbank location, as well as their opening days and times, can be found here.

In some foodbanks, St Andrew’s Money Angels support is offered by a trained team of specialist advisers.

South Liverpool Foodbank

Micah Liverpool

Details about Micah’s emergency food aid can be found here.

New Beginnings Improving Lives CIC (Filling the Gap Foodbank)

Filling the Gap Foodbank is an emergency food provision for families and individuals in crisis who have gained a referral via a professional. Deliveries take place on a Wednesday and a Friday, aiming to provide support to those who are unable to attend a regular foodbank due to their physical or mental health. The Filling the Gap Foodbank also supports those who do not have a local foodbank near them or who are unable to attend a walk-in foodbank for any other reason.

You must have been referred by a professional to access this service: this includes MPs, a Ward Councillor, a Link Worker, a CPN, a school, the Housing Association, a church, a GP, a Nurse/Community Nurse, Citizens Advice, Life Rooms and a Rehabilitation/Probation Officer.

Details about The Filling the Gap Foodbank can be found here.

L6 Centre

Details about the L6 Foodbank can be found here.

Gold House, Hope For All

Details about Hope For All’s emergency food support can be found here. Click here to contact them or visit 170 Kensington, Liverpool, L7 2RJ .

The Ibijoke Foundation

The Ibijoke Foundation provides emergency food parcels to vulnerable people in the community on Tuesday and Friday between 10am – 1pm.

For more information, please visit their website here.

Scouse in the House

Scouse in the House operates in Christ Church, Walton Breck Road. They provide meals for everyone on a Thursday from 12pm.

For more information, please click here.

The Whitechapel Centre

The Whitechapel Centre offers housing and homeless support, with capacity to offer emergency food parcels to those actively using their services. They are open 365 days a year providing services to rough sleepers and people living in temporary accommodation and those at risk of becoming homeless.