Food shelves

The New Forest Basics Bank covers a wide area supplying food, household and hygiene items to local people in need and in dire emergency situations.

It is a completely non discriminatory, not for profit, managed by volunteers, local organisation and it relies totally on non perishable donations via a network of over 22 Churches, the public and other independent organisations.

Currently it is based at a temporary site in Lymington with hopes (and a new appeal!!) to relocate to a permanent base at the Open Door Project as one of the many community outreach facilities the Lymington URC Open Door offers.

Basics Bank was set up in 2004 by “Churches Together” in the Lymington district to help in providing those who lack the means to feed themselves or their family with food for up to 5 days pending other longer term arrangements.

Clients requiring such help may be identified by any of the registered referral bodies including, for example, Social Services, Citizens Advice Bureau, local Housing Associations, Job Centres, Drugs and Alcohol Advisory Services and Women's Refuges.

These bodies may give food vouchers to those in need, and the individuals concerned can exchange these at the Basics Bank for food parcels. 

Household and Hygiene Items

All donations are checked and stored by a team of volunteers working at the Basics Bank who also make up the food parcels and either hand them to the clients directly or have the goods delivered to them.

Here are some Basics Bank facts from the 1st September 2004 to  the 31st August 2008, it has;

• Distributed over 1600 food parcels!
• Helped to feed over 3645 people/families which includes nearly 1800 children!
• Covered an area from Fawley to Highcliffe!
• Developed and is continuously working with over 50 partnerships plus Churches Together!
• Opportunities for over 40 volunteers including delivery drivers!
• Launched a fund-raising scheme under the Lymington URC Open Door Appeal for a building to house and support the work of Basics Bank!
  
  

The vision for the future is to have a dedicated New Forest Basics Bank distribution centre sited immediately behind the new Lymington United Reformed Church Open Door Project Church/Community Hall.

The Basics Bank provides a voluntary social service to the community in the New Forest and it urgently requires new accommodation from February 2009, please can you help us? All support will be fully recognised!

Perhaps you can offer some volunteering hours?

Please call us or drop in to our temporary site;

NEW FOREST BASICS BANK,
Rear of Catholic Church,
132 High Street,
Lymington,
SO41 9AQ.

T. 01590 610008
Open: Tuesday & Wednesday 10am to 12noon.