Case Study

Support to help Hackney foodbank tear off its ‘sticking plaster’

13 Jan 2025

Hackney Foodbank is anticipating that 2025 will be its toughest year yet.

In 2024 the charity distributed the equivalent to 250,000 meals from its six distribution centres and mobile food bank and has seen demand rise by 30 per cent.

“It is alarming,” says Head of Communications and Fundraising Jenna Fansa, “but we don’t want to be a sticking plaster by purely providing meals for those in desperate need.

“We want to help people move on in their lives so they no longer need to visit us. We’d like to see an end to food banks altogether.”

A step towards that goal came after Ingeus colleagues from its Central London Works Work and Health Programme Pioneer service volunteered to spend a day helping at the foodbank’s warehouse.
When asked what other help Ingeus could give, Jenna said the one thing they wished for was another caseworker.

The response was to second caseworker Valentina to be based three days a week at the Hackney centre.
She offers employment support including how to compile a compelling CV, setting up practise interviews and advising on the most effective way to find and apply for jobs.

She also passes these skills on to the foodbank’s own caseworkers and, in return, learns from them about how to ensure people are receiving the benefits they are entitled to.

“We call her our Ingeus angel,” says Jenna. “It’s a dream come true. It’s hard for us to find money to spare for this kind of support but Valentina’s help enables broader support for the people who depend on us.”

Paul Russell, Ingeus Senior Partnership and Integration Manager, said supporting Hackney Foodbank was just one of the ways the Pioneer service had embedded itself in the community.

“Engaging residents in the programme, which finds jobs for those facing significant barriers to employment and continues to support them once they have started work, was always going to be one of the hardest challenges”, said Paul.

“We had 19 full-time team members in the community, identifying and engaging London residents, attending job fairs and working with more than 100 community organisations including mosques, food banks, community and youth centres, charities and housing associations.

“Working with Hackney Foodbank is a brilliant example of the impact that true community engagement and partnership development can have on residents. All organisations delivering support to those most in need in our communities need to work together to form cohesive ecosystems of support. The Ingeus and Hackney Foodbank partnership provides a blueprint in best practice that can be replicated across London and the UK.”