A Warwickshire food bank is preparing a major expansion to address a dramatic surge in need, with demand climbing approximately 70% since the pre-pandemic era.
The Stratford-Upon-Avon Foodbank, part of the Trussell Trust network, is moving to a larger unit within the Precision Business Centre on Masons Road. This new location will serve as a comprehensive community hub, consolidating warehouse storage, food distribution sessions, and vital support services under one roof for the first time.
Fundraising Officer Isla Stroyan highlighted the hidden nature of the crisis. "The tricky thing about lots of parts of Warwickshire is there's lots of rural poverty which can be quite hidden," she said. "There still is a great shame and stigma about coming to a food bank."
"Last year we provided 5,356 parcels to people in Stratford and the surrounding villages, which is absolutely astronomical to be honest. We really don't want to see that level of need in our town."
The relocation from its current base at the Fred Winter Centre is scheduled for mid-April, with the new hub expected to open for clients by June 2026. The expansion mirrors a national trend, with the Trussell Trust reporting 2.6 million food parcels distributed across the UK in 2025—a 45% increase from 2019 figures.
Stroyan emphasized that the new space aims to provide more than emergency aid. "This helps lift people out of poverty because we recognise that emergency food is just a sticking plaster," she explained. "We really want to help tackle those long-term problems so they don't need to use a food bank again."
Volunteer Huw Cooper noted the diverse reasons bringing people to their doors. "What I notice is that we quite often see new faces, people that have never needed the food bank before," he observed. "But from struggling with debt and with the rising bills that we're all facing – they need the lifeline that the food bank provides."
He described the complex challenges faced by clients, including the impact of physical and mental health problems, debts, and situations involving domestic violence. "There's all sorts of reasons why people can end up in a situation where they rely on food banks just to get by," Cooper added.
Despite the necessary growth, the charity's ultimate goal remains unchanged. "Our long-term aim is for nobody to need to use a food bank to survive," Stroyan stated. "The fact that we are having to expand is sort of testament to the fact that there are still so many people who need our support, and we will be here as long as people need us."