Hunger Heroes: How South Liverpool Foodbank Is Helping Working Families Through the Cost of Living Crisis

South Liverpool Foodbank has grown from one small church initiative into a network of eight centres supporting hundreds of local families. Coordinator Abi Clegg shares how her team is helping people through the cost-of-living crisis — and how Bankuet plays a key role in keeping shelves stocked.

From one centre to eight

“Hi, I’m Abi Clegg, and I’m the Foodbank Coordinator for South Liverpool Foodbank,” Abi begins. “I started working here in 2020 and became coordinator in 2024. I now oversee eight centres across South Liverpool.”

The food bank began in 2009 as part of Bridge Chapel in Garston. “South Liverpool might seem like an affluent area,” Abi explains, “but there are pockets of severe deprivation, especially in Toxteth, Wavertree, and Speke. Over 15 years, we’ve expanded from one centre to eight — because sadly, the need has grown that much.”

A changing picture of need

The food bank now feeds around 500 people each month, including growing numbers of working families.

“We’re seeing more people in work who simply can’t afford life’s essentials — rent, utilities, and food,” Abi says. “People who never imagined they’d need a food bank are finding themselves here.”

During COVID, demand dipped slightly as government support increased, but post-pandemic, it has risen sharply. “The cost-of-living crisis and rising energy bills have hit people hard. Meanwhile, donations have dropped since 2021 as food prices have climbed.”

What’s needed most

Like many food banks, South Liverpool receives plenty of staples like pasta and beans — but struggles to get other essentials.

“Some of the items we’re most short of are UHT milk, long-life juice, and tinned fruit,” Abi explains. “Those things make a big difference to a balanced parcel.”

In the past six months, their top five requested items via Bankuet have been tinned mandarins, tinned peaches, squash, UHT milk, and apple juice.

“Milk is always the most requested item,” she adds. “People really miss having milk in their tea, coffee, and cereal.”

How Bankuet helps fill the gaps

Bankuet has become an essential tool in keeping South Liverpool Foodbank stocked with exactly what’s needed.

“Working with Bankuet is like having a small savings account for food,” Abi says. “We can order online when our shelves are low, and within a week or so the delivery arrives.

It saves us hours of going round supermarkets and means we’re getting the right items in bulk, all in date, and ready to go straight out to families.”

The Bankuet platform has made things even easier. Abi says. “The interface is simple and transparent. Everything arrives on time — it’s incredibly reliable.”

Stories of hope and generosity

Behind the statistics are real people finding a way forward.

“One man came to us after losing his job in construction,” Abi recalls. “He couldn’t get back into work because his CSCS card had expired and he couldn’t afford to renew it. We connected him with Liverpool in Work, who paid for his taxis, exam, and renewal. A few weeks later, he was employed again.

“That’s what we aim for — to help people take the next step out of crisis.”

Generosity keeps that work going. “We’re so grateful to our donors — both in stores and online,” Abi says. “When we do supermarket collections, people often buy more for us than for themselves. And those giving through Bankuet allow us to keep meeting need even when donations dip.”

Why continued support matters

Looking ahead, Abi is concerned about what’s to come.

“Unfortunately, we expect child poverty rates to rise, and disability benefits may become harder to access,” she says. “That means we’ll see even greater demand. We need people to keep giving — whether that’s a few pounds through Bankuet or an extra tin in the trolley. Every single contribution makes a difference.”

How you can help

The easiest way to support South Liverpool Foodbank is to donate via their Bankuet page. Your gift ensures the food bank receives exactly what’s needed, when it’s needed — keeping shelves stocked and families fed.

“Thank you to everyone who donates to South Liverpool Foodbank,” Abi says.

“Everything in our warehouse exists because of you. We simply couldn’t operate without your kindness and generosity.”