As north Ceredigion’s only foodbank looks set to offer free food for those in need for its fifth Christmas since it opened in 2011, CALEB SPENCER went to find out how it continues to operate in a financial climate which has seen a 220 per cent increase in its services in the past three years.

Opened in Easter 2011, the independent Jubilee Storehouse foodbank was set up after the UK’s largest foodbank provider, the Trussell Trust approached St Michael’s Church in Aberystwyth, asking them to open a foodbank to provide for the whole of Ceredigion.

Foodbank co-ordinator, Malcolm Dye said that St Michael’s passed the request on to St Anne’s Church in Penparcau.

He said: “As a church we prayed about it and came to the conclusion we would open a foodbank but not under Trussell Trust and not for the whole of Ceredigion — it is too large an area.

“The first request we had was on the Good Friday, from Women’s Aid.

“Some poor lady had a bust up with her husband and was literally escaping — she came with nothing from the Midlands, and had children with her.”

The Jubilee foodbank operates through a referral system, whereby 60 agencies in north Ceredigion, such as the Care Society or the Citizens Advice Bureau, are able to issue food vouchers to individuals or families who are unable to feed themselves.

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