As Covid restrictions eased and Brighton Table Tennis Club reopened fully, they were unable to continue distributing food and toiletries through their emergency food bank. As a partnership, we were aware that need in our area had not decreased and so we were determined to continue the service in some way.

The parishioners of the Catholic Parish of East Brighton volunteered to open the food bank on Sundays after Mass from 12.30 – 13.30, with support from The Trussell Trust, Brighton Table Tennis Club, Real Junk Food Project Brighton and the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership.

The weekly food bank, which is the only local food bank provision on Sundays, has grown in popularity and is now visited by more than 70 people each week.

In this short film, Herb talks about the increase in local food and hygiene poverty, which we expect will become an even greater problem as Furlough ends and the economic impact of Covid is fully realised.

He says that volunteering at the food bank is an opportunity that local Catholic parishioners have seized in order to live out their faith. We also talk to Shelly and Colin who use the food bank. They both agree that it has been a massive help and a literal lifeline at times.

Colin says that he has also enjoyed meeting people here “I know it sounds daft, but it gets me out of the house”.

Colin has absolutely hit the nail on the head! This is the vision behind the daily pay as you feel cafe at the Fitzherbert Community Hub, which will hopefully open next Spring. Not only will people be able to share wonderful meals made from surplus food on a daily basis but they will be able to form friendships with people they otherwise wouldn’t have met, building a connected and resilient community.

We hope you enjoy this short film from Stories of Note 

We would like to thank the Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton, the Albert Gubay Foundation and The Kemptown Philanthropists whose financial support has made this possible.

But, most of all, thank you to our 27 wonderful volunteers!

The food bank is open on Sundays, 12.30 – 13.30, at St John the Baptist Parish Hall. Our pay as you feel cafe is open weekly on Wednesday lunchtime from 12.30 – 14.00.