Newcastle North MP, Catherine McKinnell, has recently paid a visit to the Trussell Trust’s new Foodbank Centre based in Benwell.

Opened in August 2015 to complement its work at the Church of the Venerable Bede on the West Road, the new Centre sees the Trussell Trust working alongside other local agencies – such as Changing Lives, Shelter, the Citizens Advice Bureau and Jobcentre Plus – to provide a package of support and advice to clients, as well as emergency food aid.

The West End Foodbank is the Trussell Trust’s busiest branch in the country, feeding almost 100,000 people from across Tyneside in the two years since it opened.

The foodbank is also the nearest centre for most people living in Catherine’s constituency of Newcastle North – and has fed over 6,100 Newcastle North residents, almost half of which have been children.

The West End Foodbank – an independent charity which holds a franchise from the Trussell Trust – is reliant on food donations, financial donations and the work of its 80 dedicated volunteers, but the volume of people needing assistance means that it always grateful to receive more help.  Anyone wanting to offer support, or find out more about the West End Foodbank’s work, should contact [email protected], or 07580 751 365.

Catherine said:

“It’s devastating that, in one of the richest countries in the world, thousands of people across Tyneside are unable to put food on the table.

“However, the Trussell Trust is clearly doing an incredible job not just by providing emergency food aid, but also in helping people to turn their lives around through making sure they have access to the right support and advice.

“It was really powerful to hear about the generosity of people who help to keep the foodbank going – whether local businesses and community groups, or hard-working volunteers – and I will continue to support this work in any way I can.”

West End Foodbank Manager, Michael Nixon, said:

“We all feel deeply privileged to be able to provide a lifeline to our clients in need.

“We aim to give more than just food and try to help clients to feel valued, wanted and worthwhile members of society. We are continually amazed at how much these people are willing to help our work as both advocates and volunteers.”