Rye Foodbank first opened in 2014 and started its life as a branch of Bexhill Food Bank and then became a Trussell Trust franchisee. The Trussell Trust is a national charity that has worked with local churches and communities across the UK to establish hundreds of food banks. The Rye branch of the Bexhill Food Bank was set up with the support of local churches, through the Churches Together network.
Things have developed considerably since those early years, and Rye Foodbank is now a well functioning organisation in its own right. As from Tuesday, February 14 Rye Foodbank will no longer be a Trussell Trust franchisee, but a genuinely independent provider of services to the Rye and district community. Rye Foodbank continues to operate under the charitable oversight of the of Rye Baptist Church CIO and the direction of Churches Together in Rye and district.
The reason for this change is that Trussell’s systems and methods of operation have become less relevant to Rye Foodbank, which has adapted to distinctive local needs and powerful local support, and developed and grown as it has done so.
No noticeable change for clients – business as usual
There will be little change for any partners or clients of the food bank. There will still be no requirement for referrers to issue vouchers; clients should simply be asked to phone on 07526 349847 or email ryefoodbank@gmail.com or to come along between 12 noon and 3pm on Wednesdays. All visitors can be sure of a warm welcome and effective assistance. Emailed notification of referrals is always helpful. The Rye Community Foodbank will continue to operate from the lower hall of the Baptist Church on Cinque Ports Street and limited parking is available.
Clients can self-refer, anyone who is finding it difficult to buy food and is resident in Rye or the rural villages around Rye is very welcome to come along.
All our details including bank account and contact remain the same.
Further details are available on our new website at www.ryefoodbank.com.
Thank you to all our supporters and benefactors. We know we can count on your continued help and support as we enter this new phase of our development.
Image Credits: Kt bruce .
It’s terrible that the foodbank is needed and has become so busy, but the one in Rye is excellent and I wish it well in this new development of independence.
I wish the Rye foodback every success in its new phase as independent from the Trussel Trust. It’s good that it’s able to adapt and respond to the specific needs of the local community. It is of course abhorrent that the food bank is needed at all and there is something dreadfully wrong that growing numbers of people lack personal spending power in the fifth largest economy in the world.
As a regular contributor of several years standing to Rye Food Bank funds I was surprised to read this article. The comment “…Rye Foodbank will no longer be a Trussell Trust franchisee, but a genuinely independent provider of services to the Rye and district community.” implies that the local organisation is free from the shackles of being “a Trussell Trust franchisee..”. We are free at last, thank goodness!!
There must be more to this than meets the eye and I’m not happy. After some thought I have decided to stop my monthly payment as I no longer feel I am contributing to the same organisation with the same objectives and operating under a secure national umbrella.
I stress I am not implying any malfeasance, nothing like that. I just don’t like change for changes sake.
We greatly appreciate the support expressed and, as a team of volunteers , we are committed to supporting the local community in every way we can.
We’d certainly reassure our benefactors that withdrawal from Trussell isn’t change for the sake of it. Trussell is a fine organisation and we have nothing adverse to say about it, only appreciation. But it is geared to urban food banks, and there are strong reasons for the decisions we have made.
I would like to extend a warm invitation to John C – and anyone else – to come in on a Wednesday morning, meet the team, and we will very happily explain the reasons for the actions we have taken.
Thank you for your comment John and for you support to date. I’m sorry to say you have completely misunderstood the reasons for wanting to be free from the Trussell Trust. “There must be more to this than meets the eye” – we are dismayed that you are not happy and have withdrawn your support. Perhaps you could visit us during opening hours and see our operation. You say you are not implying malfeasance when, in fact, you are.
I am not sure why Maggie Ivatts writes that that John C. Is ‘ in fact implying malfeasance. When he has written he is not implying malfeasance.
I don’t doubt His comment was completely truthful..
May be if the article had been clearer in why the change had occurred..mr John C. Would not have been concerned and thus took his decision not to support in the future.
I thought that the tone of the comment by Bob Harper was a very kind, ‘writing a warm welcome and pleased to explain the reasons for the change ‘ was most helpful.
Glad to read the reassuring comments from Food Bank personnel. My motive in posting my original message was to dig down to question what was actually going on. (I found Mags Ivatts’ final comment to be a bit insulting to be honest.)
I recall that I posted a message on here late last year (can’t remember whether it was actually published) and which I think sums up my views. Surprisingly, I kept a copy and restate it here:
“I have lived away from Rye for all of my adult life and feel so sad that there up is still a need for a Food Bank. HOWEVER, make no mistake, there was always considerable poverty in the town and surrounding villages and it’s so encouraging that the community does now come together to offer some support.
I have found it easy to make a regular modest donation to RFB for some years. Many of us more affluent (but not rich) readers who were born and educated in the town will have received or will shortly receive a lump sum of up to £500 from the DWP. This is an enhanced winter fuel payment, although we can afford (just) to meet exorbitant fuel bills. Many will use some or all of this ‘windfall’ for charitable donations. I hope this ex-Rye cohort will remember their childhood spent in the town and give a little bit back to help those of the the current population who are having a grim time. It’s an easy thing to do.”
I would love to meet the Food Bank people but unfortunately time, distance and other limiting factors currently preclude it.
John C – please accept my apologies for having offended you.
I was most surprised to see your comment which does read as negative. Each week Rye Food Bank supplies at least a ton, and sometimes more, of non-perishable food stuffs to the needy of our community. This produce is manually carried into the Baptist Hall to be checked and sorted and packed into parcels for collection according to size of family. The work is not easy. Stock levels have then to be checked and maintained to a minimum level, weekly replenishment is necessary. We are entirely dependent on voluntary donations of cash and food. I have personally been volunteering for several years now, and all through the pandemic. I was dismayed to read your comment. It was utterly discouraging to me and all the other volunteers. But that’s ok. We are all entitled to our own opinions. I’m sorry to have offended you and did not intend to cause offence.
I like many others am full of admiration for what the foodbank provides, it saddens me that it’s needed in a town of such affluents.
Rye is fine if you’re looking for designer furniture or handmade rugs but not a lot of good if you’re trying to feed a family on a pittance.
I look for the day when the food bank is no longer needed and all the residents have the freedom to shop in their own town and feed their families.
Sadly it will never happen again Tony,the locals have been been priced out of this town.
Having run an independent food bank for 10 years (in Hertfordshire), I can completely understand why Rye has decided to become independent. A local food bank gets to know the local people and their needs and the constraints of Trussell Trust doent meet the needs of everyone. Well Done Rye – you know your people best – set your own rules. Its a pity there is a bickering going on here in the comments – everyone is on the same team – and the objectives are clear – to meet the needs of local people. Lets hope we get a government that shares this objective in the next general election.
I think the fact that our monopoly supermarket provider, Jempsons, has little to no local competition and its prices reflect this, adds to the food poverty problem in Rye. Some people are affluent, yes, but many are struggling. By my calculation, Jempsons’ prices for a basket of normal weekly groceries are 25-30% above Tesco. Many residents now take advantage of online ordering and van delivery for their groceries. Jempsons has included a small number of Coop products in its range to head off criticism, but the price facts cannot be denied. I hear a rumour that Lidl could be thinking of setting up a supermarket in town. Good luck to them.
A word in defence of Jempsons! I don’t have any comment about their retail pricing policies, only their standing as a key supplier to the Food Bank. And I can say with certainty that they closely understand the Food Bank’s need for timely, reliable and reasonably priced supplies and deliveries, and open communication. Their response to our needs is always cheerful and competent. We have carefully checked the prices they charge us and they are competitive. During the food supply difficulties, of all the supermarkets it was only Jempsons that were willing to engage with us, understand the local need and respond. Their service to the Food Bank indirectly helps many local people, week after week.
Quite agree Karen spot on with what you say and I believe many others agree with you.
Even Waitrose in Tenterden have cut their prices on hundreds of food items. let’s hope Lidi do get a supermarket somewhere in or nearby rye.