A Tameside foodbank warns it may ‘find it hard’ to support people after warehouse eviction notice

Tameside South & Longdendale Foodbank (TSLF) has warned it may “find it hard” to support people this winter after struggling to find a new home for its warehouse, following an eviction notice earlier this year.

The charity warned it has just two weeks to find an alternative space after a last-minute deal fell through.

Trustees, staff and volunteers were left shocked when the charity was unexpectedly asked by the current building’s owners to vacate. Failure to find an alternative, the foodbank warned, risks its ability to continue as normal over winter.

Councillor Hugh Roderick, a trustee at TSLF, said: “The warehouse is essential to the running of our three distribution centres as they lack the storage required to meet the need that we have seen explode over the last year.

“It is deeply disappointing that at a time when our demand is so high, and with the hard winter months still to come, we have been put in this position. If we cannot find a long-term solution soon, we will find it hard to meet the great need of our community.”

The charity has urged people to get in touch if they know of any affordable and fully-accessible warehouse spaces within three miles of Hyde which can accommodation HGVs.

The announcement follows the foodbank’s warning that it will need to spend £30,000 on food this winter to keep people fed – a record amount. This summer, almost 60% of emergency food given to those in need was bought from supermarkets instead of donated.

Susan Ayers, manager and trustee at TSLF, said: “It looks like it might be a grim winter at the foodbank as the cost of living continues to expose and exacerbate issues in Tameside. Over the last six months, the number of food parcels we have given out has increased by 50% compared to last.

“We estimate that we will have to spend around £30,000 on food this winter to prevent people going hungry in Hyde, Hattersley and Hollingworth – something we can’t sustain – so if you can spare anything at all, please donate and we can keep people fed.”

According to the charity, over a third of people supported by the charity last year were children and the number of people in full- or part-time work needing support has increased dramatically in recent months.

The foodbank added that despite cost-of-living pressures and soaring food prices, people have continued to donate a generous amount of food, thanking them for their generosity.

Councillor Jaqueline Owen urged people to donate to the foodbank to ensure struggling families in her ward are supported through winter. She said: “The work of the Trussell Trust is a lifeline to many in Longdendale and people who have previously not needed to access services, such as a foodbank, are now in a position of having to.

“This is due to the pandemic and the continued increasing cost of living. This situation will not improve over the winter months, as government help towards energy costs will cease for many.

“In collaboration with Mottram Cricket Club, we have recently raised £270 and donated food to the foodbank, but sadly this is only a small part of what is needed and so I encourage you all, if you are able, to make a donation of money or food, maybe in lieu of Christmas cards, to this very worthy cause.”

To find out more about Tameside South and Longdendale Foodbank, including how to donate, visit the charity’s website. To donate money directly to the foodbank, use its Givey page.

To contact the foodbank with suggested warehouse locations, please contact manager@tamesidesouthlongdendale.foodbank.org.uk