Quinton Foodbank

Charity 1206836

https://quintonoldbury.foodbank.org.uk

Overview

Summary

Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

Quinton Foodbank appears to operate as more than an emergency-food provider: it uses food access as a practical entry point into a small, place-based support network for people in crisis. Its model combines referral-controlled food provision with on-site advice, debt, energy, smoking-cessation and baby-bank support. This suggests an organisation positioned at the intersection of immediate hardship and longer-term stabilisation, while remaining dependent on local donations, volunteers and partner agencies.

See observations

Operational geography

Sources:ONSCivic AtlasAI-assisted

Coverage: Neighbourhood

Operational areas:

Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Quinton

Confidence: high

Direct current evidence identifies Quinton as both the stated area served and the location of the foodbank's listed emergency-food centre. The available evidence supports a fundamentally neighbourhood-based operation rather than delivery across Birmingham.

  • Quinton Foodbank, Locations page
    Lists one foodbank centre at St Boniface Church in Quinton, open on Wednesdays and Fridays for people holding a valid voucher.
  • Quinton Foodbank, How to get help page
    States that the foodbank provides three-day emergency food parcels through local-agency voucher referrals, gives St Boniface Church in Quinton as the location, and says it is unable to deliver.
  • Charity Commission register, Quinton Foodbank charity number 1206836
    States that Quinton Foodbank provides food for people in need in the area of Quinton; its reported area of operation is Birmingham City.
  • Quinton Foodbank website
    Reports onsite support at the Quinton centre from Citizens Advice, energy advice, stop-smoking provision, Christians Against Poverty debt advice, Warmer Homes and Bee Happy Baby Bank. These partnerships materially broaden the support available at the Quinton site, but do not evidence additional Birmingham operating areas.
Remaining uncertainties
  • The foodbank's name and a current Christ Church the Quinton page refer to a 'Quinton and Oldbury Foodbank', but the foodbank's current official locations page lists only St Boniface Church in Quinton. The available evidence does not establish a current Oldbury distribution site or other active service location.
  • Christ Church the Quinton states that it runs a Friday foodbank session in its Coffee Shop in partnership with St Boniface Church, whereas the foodbank's own current locations page presents St Boniface Church as the Friday location. This may indicate a second Quinton venue or an outdated/inexact partner listing; it does not alter the conclusion that the evidenced Birmingham footprint is in Quinton.
  • The voucher-referral network includes Citizens Advice, housing support officers, children's centres, health visitors, social services and local charities, but the evidence does not identify their locations or demonstrate that they create a wider operational footprint rather than referral access to the Quinton centre.
  • The charity's objects mention Quinton and surrounding areas, but this is permissive charitable scope rather than direct evidence of current service delivery beyond Quinton.
Additional evidence needed
  • A current service-location list or timetable confirmed by Quinton Foodbank, including whether Christ Church the Quinton Coffee Shop is a distinct active distribution centre.
  • A current statement of the foodbank's beneficiary or voucher-holder catchment, including whether it actively serves Oldbury or named neighbouring Birmingham areas.
  • The most recent annual report or operational/impact report identifying active distribution sites, referral partners and the geographic origins of clients.

Areas of work

Source:Charity Commission
  • General Charitable Purposes
  • The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty

Who they help

Source:Charity Commission
  • The General Public/mankind

How they help

Source:Charity Commission
  • Provides Services

Discoveries involving this organisation

Observations

Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

  • Food distribution is a gateway to wider support

    The available evidence suggests that emergency food is the organisation's principal point of contact, but its role extends into addressing some causes and consequences of crisis through co-located specialist support and signposting.

    Why it matters

    This helps distinguish Quinton Foodbank from a standalone food-distribution service. Its local value may lie partly in connecting people to advice and support at a moment when they are already seeking help.

    Show evidence

    • “Citizens Advice offers additional support and benefit advice on Wednesdays and Fridays.”

      Source:Organisation

    • “Debt advice, energy support, a stop smoking clinic and Bee Happy Baby Bank are available on specified Wednesdays.”

      Source:Organisation

    • “The charity's objects include helping those in crisis including signposting to other agencies.”

      Source:Charity Commission

  • Its operating model relies on an external referral network

    Voucher-based access appears to make partner organisations central to identifying need and directing people to the foodbank, rather than allowing wholly self-directed access.

    Why it matters

    Understanding these referral relationships is important because they likely shape who reaches the service, how quickly they do so, and where unmet need could remain less visible.

    Show evidence

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

      Source:Organisation

    • “Food vouchers can be obtained from Birmingham City Council or Citizens Advice.”

      Source:Organisation

  • Practical extras suggest a broader understanding of crisis

    Providing toiletries and pet food when available may indicate that the organisation recognises hardship as extending beyond calorie provision, though this support is supply-dependent.

    Why it matters

    This reveals a potentially more dignified and household-centred approach to emergency support, while also highlighting reliance on donated availability.

    Show evidence

    • “Toiletries and pet food are given as extras if available.”

      Source:Organisation

    • “The foodbank relies on local community support for food donations, volunteering and finances.”

      Source:Organisation

    Remaining uncertainties

  • Whether on-site partner support is routinely used by foodbank clients or operates separately.
  • Which communities, household types or neighbourhoods are least able to access voucher referrals or collection-based support.

    Additional evidence needed

  • Referral-source, client-outcome and repeat-use data.
  • Information on service reach, opening times, accessibility and the consistency of partner provision.
Charity Commission profile
Source:Charity Commission

Activities

Quinton Foodbank provides food for those in need in the area of Quinton. Referrals are made from organisations and people in need come to access food.

Charity objects

THE PREVENTION OR RELIEF OF POVERTY IN QUINTON AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS OR SUCH WIDER AREA AS MAY SEEM APPROPRIATE FROM TIME TO TIME BY PROVIDING GRANTS, ITEMS AND SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS IN NEED AND/OR CHARITIES, OR OTHER ORGANISATIONS WORKING TO PREVENT OR RELIEVE POVERTY AND IN PARTICULAR BY PROVIDING EMERGENCY FOOD SUPPLIES AND TO HELP THOSE IN CRISIS INCLUDING SIGNPOSTING TO OTHER AGENCIES.