North Solihull Foodbank

Charity 1202316

https://northsolihull.foodbank.org.uk

Overview

Summary

Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

North Solihull Foodbank appears to be a crisis-response organisation with a wider poverty-relief role than food distribution alone. Its model combines emergency parcels with referral-based access, informal support and signposting, placing it at an important junction between residents in immediate hardship and other advice or support services. Its stated reach across North Solihull, east Birmingham and surrounding areas may make it a locally rooted but cross-boundary connector, although the evidence does not yet show how its referral network operates.

See observations

Operational geography

No operational geography is currently available for this organisation.

Areas of work

Source:Charity Commission
  • The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty

Who they help

Source:Charity Commission
  • The General Public/mankind

How they help

Source:Charity Commission
  • Provides Advocacy/advice/information
  • Provides Services

Discoveries involving this organisation

Observations

Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

  • A gateway into wider support, not only food aid

    The available evidence suggests that emergency food is the organisation's immediate intervention, while conversation, information and signposting are intended to help people address the circumstances behind the crisis.

    Why it matters

    This indicates that the foodbank may be a key point of contact for residents who are not yet connected to advice, welfare or other support services. Its effectiveness may therefore depend partly on the strength of those onward relationships.

    Show evidence

    • “We offer a friendly chat, signpost clients to agencies and give information to improve the situation they have found themselves in.”

      Source:Organisation

    • “The charity's objects include the provision of support or signposting to relevant information and other advisory services.”

      Source:Charity Commission

  • Referral-based access makes partnerships operationally central

    The voucher referral system appears to mean that other organisations or professionals play a practical role in identifying need and enabling access to food support.

    Why it matters

    This makes the foodbank's local relationships consequential: gaps in referral access could leave some people unseen, while strong referral partners may enable earlier and more joined-up support.

    Show evidence

    • “Our foodbank works using a voucher referral system.”

      Source:Organisation

    • “The charity may provide emergency food, essential toiletries and household items to individuals and families in need and/or for distribution by charities or other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty.”

      Source:Charity Commission

  • A community-supported service with substantial recent demand

    The organisation appears to rely on local donations, volunteers and finance to meet a level of crisis need that included 4,273 people, including 1,600 children, during 2025.

    Why it matters

    This highlights both a local civic asset and a potential vulnerability: service capacity may be closely tied to continuing community contribution while demand includes a significant number of children.

    Show evidence

    • “4273 People fed during during 2025.”

      Source:Organisation

    • “1600 Children fed by our foodbank in 2025.”

      Source:Organisation

    • “We rely on the support of our local community for food donations, volunteering and finances.”

      Source:Organisation

    Remaining uncertainties

  • Which agencies and community organisations can issue vouchers, and whether referral coverage is equitable across the stated area.
  • Whether foodbank use is rising, falling or concentrated in particular neighbourhoods or household types.
  • What onward outcomes result from signposting, beyond the immediate provision of food.

    Additional evidence needed

  • A current list and geographic distribution of referral partners, with information on how people without existing professional contact can access help.
  • Annual demand, parcel and beneficiary trends, including repeat use and anonymised household characteristics.
  • Information on signposting partners and whether clients successfully access longer-term advice, income or housing support.
Charity Commission profile
Source:Charity Commission

Activities

Furthering Charitable Objectives

Charity objects

THE RELIEF OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AMONGST PEOPLE IN NORTH SOLIHULL, EAST BIRMINGHAM AND THE SURROUNDING AREA IN SUCH WAYS AS THE TRUSTEES FROM TIME-TO-TIME THINK FIT, IN PARTICULAR, BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY BY: A) PROVIDING EMERGENCY FOOD, ESSENTIAL TOILETRIES, AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NEED AND/OR FOR DISTRIBUTION BY CHARITIES OR OTHER ORGANISATIONS WORKING TO PREVENT OR RELIEVE POVERTY. B) SUCH OTHER MEANS, INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) THE PROVISION OF SUPPORT OR SIGNPOSTING TO RELEVANT INFORMATION AND OTHER ADVISORY SERVICES NOTHING IN THIS CONSTITUTION SHALL AUTHORISE AN APPLICATION OF THE PROPERTY OF THE CIO FOR THE PURPOSES WHICH ARE NOT CHARITABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH [SECTION 7 OF THE CHARITIES AND TRUSTEE INVESTMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 2005] AND [SECTION 2 OF THE CHARITIES ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2008]