How In-house Research helped a foodbank supporting more than 11,000 people a year fill the gaps in donated stock

Medway Foodbank supported more than 11,000 people last year. Nearly half were children. Demand has grown by 158% over the past six years, putting greater pressure on the stock needed to build a complete food parcel.

Food donations provide the foundation, but there are other essentials that need to be available too, including toiletries, baby items and cleaning products. When these items are harder to source through donations, the foodbank needs another way to keep its stock levels up.

A £500 contribution from In-house Research gave Medway Foodbank funding to purchase the items it needed.

A foodbank that supports communities

Medway Foodbank operates from nine centres and relies on public donations, supermarket collection points, seasonal appeals and grant funding to maintain its stock.

Its work also moves beyond providing emergency food. Through a partnership with Citizens Advice Medway, the foodbank offers professional financial advice to help people address the circumstances that have led them to seek support.

“We will use the kind donation of £500 from In-house Research to purchase foodbank stock. We are so very grateful to you all. Please pass on our sincere thanks to all concerned.”

       Lorraine Schulze, Fundraising and Policy Manager at Medway Foodbank

Supporting a local organisation

In-house Research specialises in customer and tenant satisfaction research for housebuilders and social landlords. The company already works with Medway Council and Hyde Housing Association on customer insight in the area.

Supporting Medway Foodbank offered a direct way to contribute to the community alongside those existing local relationships.

“Great organisation, good communication and very much needed,” said the In-house Research team, led by Tom Weston and Craig Weston.

What the support makes possible

With more than 11,000 people relying on the foodbank each year, maintaining a reliable supply of essentials requires support from several directions. Donations remain vital, while contributions such as this give the organisation another way to respond when particular items are in short supply.

The £500 from In-house Research therefore became part of the wider network of support that allows Medway Foodbank to keep its centres stocked and continue supporting people across the area.

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