Food bank braces for increase in demand this October half-term
March Food Bank prepares to meet rising needs as families face mounting cost-of-living pressures during school holidays
March Food Bank is preparing for an increase in demand over the October half-term, with manager Marina Allpress anticipating a higher volume of families seeking support. As children are at home, families relying on free school meals during term time face additional challenges. Allpress explained, “There’s more mouths to feed in the families,” noting that while many eligible families receive vouchers to assist during holidays, not all are signed up, leaving gaps in support.
Half-term holidays often lead to greater pressure on food banks. "I anticipate an increase," Allpress remarked, adding that demand has sharply risen in recent months due to ongoing cost-of-living challenges. "Fuel prices aren’t going down, food prices aren’t going down—they’re going up quite steeply," she said, stressing that rising costs are likely to lead to an even greater need for food bank services as winter sets in.
March Food Bank, which operates on a voucher system, anticipates the need to support more families over the October half-term and has prepared by gathering community donations from local harvest events. “We have had a lot of donations, so we will be able to support everyone during half term,” Allpress explained, adding that these contributions allow the food bank to stock up for the holiday week. The food bank also offers non-food support to families through partnerships with Citizens Advice and P3, providing budgeting and debt advice. "We can help… support them with that," Allpress said, noting that practical advice can alleviate some of the financial pressure many families face.
The centre’s volunteers are committed to reducing the stigma and discomfort that often accompany food bank visits. Allpress shared that their goal is to make the experience as welcoming as possible, likening the environment to a café where visitors can get a cup of tea or biscuit while they wait for food. “We want people to feel… comfortable. It’s tough enough,” Allpress said. Many who seek help feel a significant level of shame, she explained, so the volunteers aim to ensure people leave feeling “a little bit better than they did when they came in, not only with bags of food but also just a little less stressed.”
This supportive approach has been critical as food banks expand rapidly across the UK. “There’s as many food banks as there are McDonald’s,” Allpress remarked, reflecting on the widespread increase in food bank usage and the essential role they now play within communities. While she and her team continue to hope that the need for such services will diminish, demand continues to grow. “Ideally, we don’t want to exist,” she said, adding that they work closely with referral agencies to minimise the number of people needing their services. But Allpress admitted that their efforts often feel like “swimming against the tide,” as more people are affected by rising costs and economic challenges.
For the food bank, preparing for school holidays like the October half-term involves ensuring enough volunteers and food supplies to meet demand. Allpress noted, “We have enough volunteers… so that we can run our services as efficiently as we can and spend enough time with the clients.” The team’s dedication to creating a safe, welcoming environment remains a priority, and they seek to support visitors in a way that minimises stress and reduces feelings of stigma.
While exact numbers of anticipated visitors during the October break are not yet clear, Allpress is confident that the food bank is ready to respond to the community’s needs. "Ask me again in a week’s time, and I’ll tell you what happened," she said with a sense of readiness.
The food bank remains optimistic, even in the face of rising demand. “We’ll remain optimistic and see what policymakers deliver,” Allpress stated. But in the meantime, she and her team are prepared to serve the community, ensuring that anyone in need will find March Food Bank ready to help.
March Food Bank, located at Centenary Baptist Church and operating in partnership with Ely Food Bank under the Trussell Trust, is open every Tuesday from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
Individuals in need are required to obtain a voucher, which can be obtained through local agencies, including Ormiston Children’s Centre, Social Services, Richmond Fellowship, Fenland District Council Community Hub (call 01354 654321), Wisbech Citizens Advice, CAP (Christians Against Poverty), New Horizons, P3, and the Fenland Early Intervention Team. Local GPs can also provide vouchers if an appointment is already in place.
Additionally, people can call Ely Trussell Trust at 01353 468626 for further assistance.
Donations can be made at the Centenary Baptist Church during opening hours or at local collection points, including Tesco on Hostmoor Avenue, Sainsbury’s on Mill View, Co-op on Badgeney Road, Iceland on High Street, and QD Stores on Broad Street.
For those interested in volunteering, contact Becky Cooper at becky@ely.foodbank.org.uk.