Posts in '2011'

On Saturday 15th October extreme endurance runner Alexandra Panayotou, 41, completed her most gruelling challenge to date: 315KM (195.7 miles) without resting or sleeping. After 50 hours running Alex was greeted by a crowd of 26,000 as she finished by lapping the pitch during half-time at Norwich City FC’s premier league match against Swansea City. We want to say a huge thank you to Alex for raising funds and awareness for foodbanks, and what’s more, this is just a warm up! (more…)

Budding athlete Dani didn’t have the best start in life: he was abandoned to an orphanage aged four and abused as a child. Aged 18, like all those in state care in Bulgaria, Dani had to leave the orphanage. His life took a turn for the better when he joined our House of Opportunity programme and he is determined to give more orphanage leavers the chance he had, which is why he is running the New Forest Marathon on 25th September. (more…)

Runner-up triathlon World Champion Richard Iles and a team of three friends ranging from novices to Great Britain competitors completed an epic feat of endurance from 8th-14th August by finishing seven of the UK’s toughest full triathlons in seven consecutive days. To raise funds for the Trust the team pushed themselves beyond the limits to cover a massive 778.15km each in total, finishing the challenge with an Iron Man distance triathlon.

Before the event, Richard Iles, 50, said: ‘I don’t actually know if I can do it – it’s a genuine challenge, but it’s exciting.’

Co-athlete Tim Harris, 28, Manager of Downton Leisure Centre had only done three triathlons before attempting 7 in 7, he said:  ‘7-in-7 will incredibly physically demanding but I’m determined to make it. The Trussell Trust is a great charity and its foodbank project is seeing a massive increase in need nationwide, so we wanted to do something to help people going hungry on our own doorstep.’ (more…)

Ferdane and Vasko, both 19, have just become the first residents of our new House of Opportunity for state care leavers in Ruse, Bulgaria. They were welcomed into our third House of Opportunity by houseparents Mariana and Maria. They are settling in well and have already secured jobs with local employers. Just one year ago, this story could have been very different…

In Bulgaria, a country with an estimated 8,000 children living in orphanages, there is no state responsibility for young people once they turn 18. On reaching adulthood, those abandoned to orphanages are asked to leave. Many have no home, no family, no money. Their options? Life on the streets or in a poverty stricken community, earning enough to survive through prostitution, odd jobs or crime. Or, worse still, becoming the victims of human traffickers. (more…)

Foodbanks are opening at an unprecedented rate to meet the high demand for emergency food aid: in 2011 The Trussell Trust has launched a new foodbank every week, launching its 100th UK foodbank this week. 

61,500 people nationwide have received emergency food handouts from The Trussell Trust’s UK foodbanks in the last 12 months, 50% more than last year. Most foodbank recipients are not homeless; they are low-income working families who hit crisis, people who have been made redundant or people experiencing benefits delays. We are excited that more and more churches and communities across the UK are seeing the need on their doorsteps and working with us to launch more foodbanks. (more…)

You’re more likely to know him for his roles in Love Actually and Pirates of the Caribbean rather than combatting poverty, but actor Bill Nighy is a keen campaigner on social justice. As one of the voices of the Robin Hood Tax campaign, Bill wanted to find out more about UK poverty and Oxfam suggested that he visit a Trussell Trust foodbank!

On Wednesday we took Bill to Hammersmith and Fulham foodbank where he met foodbank clients, heard their stories and even packed a foodbox himself. At the end of his visit we asked Bill what he thought, he told us: ‘It’s very moving to come here in modern times to see a room incredibly well stocked with donated food for people who, through no fault of their own, have dropped through the cracks. The fact that the people here volunteer to help is both touching and exemplary. I salute all those involved.’ (more…)

We are delighted to have opened our latest community charity shop in Boscombe, Bournemouth on Monday 4th April. Why not pop in for a browse and say hello to Mary, Tabitha and the team? Or better still, could you join the team?! We are looking for people of all ages and abilities to volunteer in the Boscombe shop. Could you join our team? You’ll have fun, meet new people, learn new skills and make a valuable contribution to your community?  Please contact Lizzie Abnett for more information at [email protected] or 01722 427 111. (more…)

After being impressed by The Trussell Trust’s House of Opportunity in Gabrovo, Bulgaria, the local municipality asked us to take over the running of its small group home for abandoned children aged 15-18. Our in-country partners FSCI are now being funded by the local authority to run a house that helps five young people per year to make the transition from orphanage life to independence.

Trussell Trust Director Chris Mould says: ‘I am delighted that a progressive local authority has so rapidly recognised the effectiveness of the House of Opportunity model and has asked us to adapt it to help them with their responsibility for under 18’s.’ (more…)

Following the closure of three local companies, Okehampton foodbank has seen numbers needing emergency food soar from 20 to 200 per week.  Unemployment in the Devon town has risen from 2% to nearly 12% leaving many former employees with no choice but to rely on food parcels from Okehampton foodbank until redundancy packages and benefit payments come through.

The plight of the people in Okehampton and surge in numbers turning to the foodbank has been widely reported by the national media.  Whilst local people have rallied to provide extra food to meet the demand, the foodbank is still under pressure. Okehampton foodbank’s Andrew Morgan told the Guardian, “We are still appealing for food, it is desperately needed: some staff made redundant hadn’t been paid for weeks. There really are people with no money and they really can’t afford to put food on the table.” (more…)

Foodbanks are launching at record pace with 12 already launched in 2011 alone. We now have 91 foodbanks providing emergency food to people in crisis nationwide.   More and more communities across the UK are working with us to start foodbanks but the need is still great. 13 million people live below the poverty line in the UK and every day foodbanks meet people who are struggling to put food on the table. The need for foodbanks in the North East of Could you help launch more foodbanks? (more…)