Poole Food Bank

Poole Food Bank Poole Food Bank provides emergency food to those in crisis.

Poole Lifecentre provides not just emergency food parcels but also support around budgeting and debt, homelessness, addiction, family services, victim support and more, for anyone who is in need of a helping hand. The food is free & the vouchers required to access it are held by a wide range of professionals in the community, so that those in need can be helped quickly. Most of the food is donated

by local churches, schools, community groups, businesses & individuals.Where possible, a more sustainable solution will be sought by working with other organisations to help clients access a wider range of support.

Healthy eating isn’t always easy.For many people who rely on foodbanks, eating healthy meals can feel especially difficu...
26/05/2026

Healthy eating isn’t always easy.

For many people who rely on foodbanks, eating healthy meals can feel especially difficult. When finances are stretched, the priority is often simply making sure there is enough food on the table, and fresh ingredients or balanced meals can quickly become unaffordable luxuries.

But we try.

Here at Poole Foodbank, we try to support healthier choices where we can, by ensuring we offer a small range of fresh fruit and vegetables alongside our food parcels. But recently, we’ve taken this a step further with our recipe bags.

Each recipe bag contains all the ingredients needed to prepare a fresh, home-cooked meal from scratch. It includes a source of protein, fresh veg, carbohydrate and more. It takes planning, organising, sourcing ingredients and, most importantly, your generous monetary donations to make these possible.

What we hear back from families reminds us exactly why they matter so much.

Yes, the bags help relieve the pressure of having to think about “what’s for dinner?” for one evening. But they do something even more important too.

One family recently shared how they all came together in the kitchen to cook their recipe bag meal. Reading the recipe together, preparing the ingredients and sitting down to eat opened up conversations they hadn’t experienced in a long while.

They told us that worry and stress had kept conversation short and heavy for months. But for that one evening, cooking together helped them forget — just for a little while — the pressure and struggle they were facing.

They said:
“We won’t forget that evening.”

This. ❤️

This is exactly what we hoped our recipe bags would become. Not just healthy meals, but moments of togetherness, comfort and joy too.

Could you help us make more evenings like this possible for other families?

£5 could help us create one simple recipe bag
£10 could help feed a small family for one healthy meal
£50 could help bring togetherness to 5 families for one evening

All whilst encouraging healthy, wholesome home-cooked food.

Please help us be that momentary relief and positive change for local families by donating via the QR code attached. Every contribution truly makes a difference.

We are absolutely delighted to welcome Nicci to the Poole Lifecentre & Foodbank family as our new Deputy Manager! 🎉Bring...
08/05/2026

We are absolutely delighted to welcome Nicci to the Poole Lifecentre & Foodbank family as our new Deputy Manager! 🎉

Bringing a wealth of experience from organisations including Access Wellbeing and beyond, Nicci joins us at an incredibly important and exciting time as we continue to grow and strengthen our Reliance to Resilience model.

Whilst crisis support through food parcels remains at the heart of what we do, our vision reaches far beyond emergency provision. We want every person who walks through our doors to feel supported, empowered and equipped to regain control over their circumstances — moving from crisis to stability, and towards a future of their choosing.

This journey is not one we can achieve alone. Real and lasting change only happens through strong partnership working and a shared commitment to our community. We are incredibly grateful to work alongside organisations including Waste Not Want Not Poole, The Adam Practice, BCP Homes, the BCP Crisis Team, Routes to Roots, Tesco, Waitrose, local schools, amazing churches and so many others who help make this vision possible every single day.

Nicci’s passion, experience and heart for people make her a fantastic addition to our team, and with her joining the family we are another step closer to creating meaningful, positive change for so many across our community.

Welcome, Nicci! 💙

From Waste to Worth: Rethinking Food in Our CommunityWith the recent introduction of food waste collections across BCP C...
04/05/2026

From Waste to Worth: Rethinking Food in Our Community

With the recent introduction of food waste collections across BCP Council, many of us are being encouraged to think differently about what we throw away. We’re told to separate out peelings, coffee grounds, and the trimmings from our meals — the things we commonly label as “food waste.”

But let’s pause for a moment.

Because we know — through both lived experience and wider research — that what ends up in the bin often goes far beyond peelings and scraps. Perfectly good food is regularly thrown away. Food that was bought with good intention but never used. Food forgotten at the back of the fridge. Food purchased in excess and left to spoil.

At the same time, right here in our community, there are individuals and families facing the daily reality of not being able to afford enough food — a basic necessity of life.

This contrast is hard to ignore.

At Poole Foodbank, we see the impact of this every day. We meet people making impossible choices, stretching meals, skipping meals, and worrying about how to feed their families. And yet, just beyond that reality, there is an opportunity — a simple but powerful shift we can all make.

What if we rethought our habits?

What if, instead of buying that extra item we might not use, we chose not to — and redirected that value elsewhere?

What if £5 or £10 a month — often the cost of food that ends up uneaten — was instead given to support someone who genuinely needs it?

That small change could mean:

* One less missed meal for someone in crisis
* A family able to sit down together without worry
* A step towards dignity and resilience for someone struggling

In that moment, what could have been waste becomes something meaningful. It becomes support. It becomes care. It becomes community.

Reducing food waste isn’t just about environmental responsibility — although that matters deeply. It’s also about social responsibility. It’s about recognising the value of what we have and choosing to use it wisely.

So as food waste collections become part of everyday life, we invite you to think beyond the bin.

Now is the moment to act.

👉 Could you commit to donating the cost of one “wasted” item each week?
👉 Could you set up a monthly gift of £5 or £10 to support local families?
👉 Could you turn intention into impact today?

You can make your donation via the QR code 🙏🏼

Every pound you give helps ensure someone in our community doesn’t have to face hunger alone.

Together, we can turn waste into worth — and compassion into action.

Can you help us make that difference today?

❤️

We have a small but important ask for anyone visiting us at Poole Lifecentre & FoodbankWe are currently very low on shop...
27/04/2026

We have a small but important ask for anyone visiting us at Poole Lifecentre & Foodbank

We are currently very low on shopping bags. In the past, we’ve been kindly supported with bag donations from supermarkets, but these have slowed right down, and the cost of buying them ourselves is becoming increasingly difficult.

If you’re coming to collect a food parcel, please remember to bring your own bags with you if you can. It really helps us ensure we can continue to support everyone who needs us.

As a bonus, bringing your own bags also helps reduce waste and supports the environment 💪🏼

Thank you for your understanding and for working with us — every small action makes a big difference.

At Poole Lifecentre and Foodbank, we are continually reviewing how we support people in crisis, ensuring that everything...
21/04/2026

At Poole Lifecentre and Foodbank, we are continually reviewing how we support people in crisis, ensuring that everything we do helps move individuals and families forward—from reliance to resilience.

As part of this journey, we’ve recently made some important changes to how our food vouchers work.

When a voucher is issued by a referrer, it is assigned to a specific foodbank. In the past, vouchers could be redeemed at any centre, but to help streamline the referral process and provide more consistent, tailored support, we will now only be fulfilling vouchers that name us as the redeeming centre. This change is being introduced across all our satellites.

Alongside this, vouchers will now be issued for the foodbank closest to your home address. As foodbanks are designed to be a crisis prevention tool, having access to support near you can help reduce additional stress and make it easier to access ongoing help if needed.

We understand this may feel like a big shift for some, but these changes are driven by a desire to better support each person who comes through our doors—not just in the moment of crisis, but in helping them take steps beyond it.

Our heart remains the same: to walk alongside people with dignity, care, and the right support at the right time.

Thank you for your understanding and for continuing to be part of a community that believes in building resilience together.

Foodbank, Pantry or Social Supermarket – what’s the difference? 🤔We’re often asked why there are different types of food...
16/04/2026

Foodbank, Pantry or Social Supermarket – what’s the difference? 🤔

We’re often asked why there are different types of food support in our community, so here’s a simple breakdown 👇

🥫
A foodbank exists to help people in crisis. Food parcels are provided free of charge, usually for a short period, alongside support to help address the reasons someone needs emergency food in the first place. Foodbanks are about immediate relief and longer-term solutions. This is what we do!

🧺
A pantry works on a membership model. Members pay a small weekly fee and choose their own food, often getting £15–£25 worth for a few pounds. Pantries are designed to support people on low incomes while promoting choice, dignity and budgeting skills. Say hello to poolepantry

🛒
A social supermarket looks and feels like a shop but sells food at heavily reduced prices. People choose what they need and pay a small amount, helping stretch household budgets while maintaining independence and normality. And here is where Poole Waste Not Want Not comes in!

💙 Working together
At Poole Lifecentre & Foodbank, we don’t work in isolation. We work very closely with our partners, including Poole Pantry and Waste Not Want Not, to make sure people are supported in the right way at the right time.

Together, our aim is to help people move from a place of reliance to resilience — from needing emergency support, to having choice, stability and confidence around food and finances.

🙏 None of this happens without you
We simply couldn’t do this without the incredible support of our donors — both big and small. Whether you donate food, make a financial contribution, volunteer your time, or support us in other ways, you are helping make this whole system work.

Food should be a bridge, not a destination — and together, as a community, we’re making that possible.

Thank you for being part of it 💙
❤️

Easter Opening Hours 🐰 🐣 Please note that Poole Lifecentre & Foodbank will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday (w...
31/03/2026

Easter Opening Hours 🐰 🐣

Please note that Poole Lifecentre & Foodbank will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday (we are normally closed on Monday’s anyway 😉)

As we head into the Easter weekend, we want to wish all of our supporters, volunteers and community a blessed and peaceful Easter.

This time of year can be joyful for many, but we also recognise that for others it can be incredibly difficult. We kindly ask that you spare a thought for those who may be struggling—whether financially, emotionally, or in other ways.

Our hope is that everyone, wherever they find themselves, is able to experience some sense of peace, comfort and joy this Easter.

With gratitude
From all of us at Poole Lifecentre & Foodbank ❤️

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending BCP’s “Stories of Change” meeting, where a range of organisations came togeth...
24/03/2026

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending BCP’s “Stories of Change” meeting, where a range of organisations came together to share the impact of their work across our community.

It was both humbling and inspiring. Hearing these stories reinforced something we see every day at Poole Lifecentre & Foodbank: real, lasting change doesn’t happen in isolation. It is built through strong partnerships, shared purpose, and a collective commitment to supporting one another.

Moments like this encourage us to reflect more deeply on what we are striving to achieve—not just as individual organisations, but as a community working together, for the community. Partnership working is not just beneficial; it is the driving force behind building stronger, more resilient communities where people can move from crisis towards stability, from reliance to resilience.

It also brought to mind a quote I came across this morning from Roger Waters ( Pink Floyd ), which feels particularly fitting for the work we are all part of:

“I’ve only ever written about one thing in my life, which is the fact that we, as human beings, have a responsibility to one another and that it’s important that we empathize with others, that we organize society so that we all become happier and we all get the life we really want.”

This is exactly what we are all working towards.

At Poole Lifecentre and Foodbank, our aim has always been about more than just providing food.Yes, we are here in times ...
18/03/2026

At Poole Lifecentre and Foodbank, our aim has always been about more than just providing food.

Yes, we are here in times of crisis — to ensure no one goes hungry and everyone is met with compassion, dignity, and care. But our heart is in what comes next.

We walk alongside people on a journey — from reliance to resilience.

Sometimes, that journey isn’t easy. There are moments where it can be hard to take the next step, especially when something has become familiar or feels safe. But we believe in every person’s ability to rebuild, to grow, and to move towards independence.

That means offering more than a food parcel. It means support, encouragement, honest conversations, and opportunities to connect with wider services that can help bring lasting change.

We don’t measure success by how many people need us — but by how many no longer do!

Because our goal is not dependency.
Our goal is dignity, confidence, and a future where people feel able to stand on their own two feet.

And we will be there, every step of the way.

And that journey takes time, trust, and courage — from them, and from us.

We will always be here in times of crisis. But our greatest hope is that people don’t need to come back 🙏🏼💙

Important Update – Early Closure This WednesdayWe’re really sorry for any inconvenience, but Poole Foodbank will need to...
09/03/2026

Important Update – Early Closure This Wednesday

We’re really sorry for any inconvenience, but Poole Foodbank will need to close early at 11:45am this Wednesday.

If you were planning to visit that day, please try to arrive before 11:45am.

Our normal opening hours will remain in place for the rest of the week, and we’ll be here as usual to support anyone who needs us.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

Address

St. James Church Centre, Church Street, (in Hall Opposite Church)
Poole
BH151JN

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9:30am - 12:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 12:30pm
Thursday 9:30am - 12:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 12pm

Telephone

+441202672694

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Poole Food Bank posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organisation

Send a message to Poole Food Bank:

Shortcuts

Share

Category