Thornbury's Foodbank outlet is based at Thornbury Baptist Church, Gillingstool, Thornbury BS35 2EG.
Our phone number is 01454 419118, our email address is and our opening hours are: Friday 1.30 – 4.00pm.
For more information about the North Bristol and South Glos Foodbank, please call 0117 472 5172, email or visit nbsg.foodbank.org.uk.
On 9th July we moved out of our temporary premises in Turnberrie’s back to our spiritual home in Thornbury Baptist Church (TBC). We have so many to give thanks to for making this possible, the staff at Turnberrie’s looked after us very well, providing us with more than adequate space and making our stay there comfortable and perfect for volunteers and clients. Those who prepared both the inside and outside space for us to move back in. Lastly, to all involved in the move last week so that we were able to open to clients on Friday 11th July. It is wonderful to be part of the church community again and continue God’s work of helping those in need.
The number of clients coming to us over the past six months has varied considerably, from 5 to 6 vouchers to 10 to 12 vouchers each week. A voucher can be for 1 person, a couple, small family or large family. Some clients have received other help from the benefits agency where they have received vouchers to buy food. Numbers have risen over past weeks. We are no longer required to keep data on numbers fed as these are kept centrally by North Bristol South Glos Foodbank (NBSG). Trussell Trust also publish these statistics on their website.
We are so glad to be able to say that we have always had regular donations from our community so that we are able to provide parcels of food for all in need even though from January to June, we received over 4 tonnes of donations, which, compared with the same period last year, are down by just under 1 tonne.
We continue to be grateful to the support of our community, and so glad to report that both donors and clients found their way to us at Turnberrie’s and will hopefully continue to do so now that we are back at TBC.
We receive good support from the North Bristol Foodbank (NBSG). Three of our volunteers recently went on a First Aid Course which was exceptional. Others are planning to go on the next one, later this year. We also linked in with the Advice First Project Coordinator at NBSG, who is looking to improve signposting by foodbanks in our region. We shared knowledge on how we help clients with more than food by signposting them to other organisations which will provide the help they need to get out of the difficulties they find themselves in.
It has been good to receive good positive feedback from referrals to other organisations especially Warm and Well, which is part of Severn Wye Energy Agency, who can provide help with energy advice and support. Our clients have also been helped by our contact at Citizens Advice and New Start Debt Advice volunteers.
Your continuing financial donations enable us to buy fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese, bread, spread, baby milk, nappies and essentials when our stocks are low. We are also grateful to Daggs Allotment who donate fresh items to us from their excesses during summer months.
We continue to share what we do with other groups which include local schools, local farmers and Beavers Thornbury. We are most grateful for the donations we received as a result. Please feel free to contact us if there are others of you who would like us to do this.
We have been pleased to welcome some new volunteers over the past couple of months, who have fitted in well to our existing team of faithful volunteers. We continue to be so grateful for the time they are willing to give to help others.
On behalf of all of those benefiting from your kindness, generosity, concern, and always in the hope that one day Foodbanks will no longer be needed, we want to thank you again for making life a little easier for those in need of our help. We really appreciate your support.
Wishing you all continued health, peace and hope in the coming days.
Mair Vaughan
On Behalf of Thornbury Foodbank Management Team.
The foodbank provides emergency meals for 3 days to people in short term crisis.
The crisis can be the result of problems such as benefit delay/withdrawal, separation, unexpected bills, debt, bereavement or redundancy.
It's a service for local people in short term difficulties, to remove the worry of feeding their families while problems are sorted out.
The Thornbury outlet is a Thornbury Churches Together initiative, based at Thornbury Baptist Church, with volunteers from all Thornbury's churches running it and donating food.
The North Bristol Foodbank is part of The Trussell Trust's UK wide foodbank network.
To access emergency food support from the local foodbank in South Glos, you will need to be referred by a frontline professional support service (those who work in the health and social care bracket).
If you are not sure who to contact or this is the first time you have needed a voucher for Foodbank please contact:
You can also be referred via your GP or local Health Centre and a Housing Officer, Support Worker or Social Worker.
Click here to see the latest Shopping List.
You can drop off donations in the crate behind the tills at Tesco or on the Thornbury Baptist Church steps on Fridays between 9.00 and 11.00am.
Food is collected by churches, schools, businesses, other groups and from the public by collecting outside supermarkets.
The food is sorted by type and date and stored ready for use.
Care professionals allocate vouchers to people they encounter at work who need food.
Vouchers are issued online and sent to North Bristol Foodbank electronically. We receive those for clients in our area and the client is texted an appointment time between 1.30 and 4pm on a Friday at Thornbury Baptist Church.
While the parcel is prepared, trained staff talk to the client to see how else they can help, e.g. with debt advice or by liaising with official agencies.
This is a typical example of a client:
If, twelve months ago, someone had told me that I’d be relying on a Foodbank to feed me, I would have laughed at them; life was going swimmingly.
Then, out of a clear blue sky, I found myself handed a series of events that were both unexpected and out of my control. I found my income cut off with, sadly, my financial commitments remaining. Before I knew it, I had mere pennies in my bank account and no food in my fridge.
Whilst I’d assumed that the welfare state that I’d paid into for years would help me, I found that I’d been pretty much hung out to dry. Every Government and Local Authority avenue I tried proved to be hopeless. Quite simply there was nothing available in the system for people like me.
By the time I found the foodbank, I hadn’t eaten for three days and I was desperate.
If I’m honest, there’s far more embarrassment than pleasure having to go cap-in-hand to a food charity. That said, they treated me with understanding, compassion and moreover, like a human being.
