I've raised £2500 to help with set up costs for a new LGBTQ food bank in Brighton!
Organised by Reuben Davidson
Story
The Village Food Bank is an emerging initiative for low-income LGBTQ+ people in Brighton and Hove to access food, toiletries and other essentials items in a welcoming and affirming community space.
Will you help us on our mission to launch this summer? 🚀
Not enough is known about poverty in the LGBTQ+ community, but we do know that we are more likely to experience poor mental health, longstanding physical illnesses and discrimination in the workplace (Stonewall 2018, NHS 2021), all of which are likely to compound the risk of falling on, or below, the poverty line- even more so if you are a person of colour, trans or non-binary. LGBTQ+ people seeking refuge and sanctuary in the UK also face Home Office-imposed poverty and are at a high risk of destitution (Micro Rainbow 2013).
The founder of TVFB, Reuben Davidson, has been working in the LGBTQ+ sector for the last 10 years and has noticed a real gap in service provision.
"In my day-job for a local LGBTQ+ charity, I often refer clients to existing food banks in the city but experiences of microaggressions and discrimination seems commonplace. LGBTQ+ training for these food banks is a longer-term aim of The Village Food Bank, but ultimately we have community members going without essentials and reaching and supporting those who need us is our primary concern. With a lack of mobilisation from the current government to address the Cost of Living Crisis effectively there are pressures on us all to make ends meet, but if finances were already tough before further strain feels impossible. Coming together to launch a project that aims to reduce this burden and strengthen community connection feels critical."
Alongside the food bank, we hope to offer collaboration opportunities for other LGBTQ+ affirming community services to be available to clients in the same space, such as benefits, housing advice, social groups, and health services in a relaxed, one-stop-shop afternoon.
A home for the food bank (which will be wheelchair-accessible) is in the works but yet to be confirmed at this early stage, however costs for venue and storage hire, volunteer expenses, essential development and other core costs will all add up quickly, so fundraising now is imperative. Funding applications from community grants will be happening concurrently to private fundraising efforts, but financial stability in the initial stages of the project, as well as a safety net of funds going forward, will help to establish some security for the project during a challenging time for charity funding across the board.
If you would like to donate items to the food bank, we will be doing a call out for donations of non-perishable food, period products, baby food and formula, toiletries and other essential items once we have a storage space set up, so do give us a follow on instagram to keep up to date. In the meantime, please start storing donations from you and your friends (if you can).
If you would like to join our volunteer team, or if you are a community organisation or business interested in working with us, please email us- thevillagefoodbank@gmail.com.
Thank you so much for your support!
🖤🤎🏳⚧🏳️🌈
