The Sid Valley Food Bank covers Sidmouth, Sidford, Sidbury and adjacent villages. Other Food Banks are available outside of this area. We operate from Primley United Reformed Church, Sidmouth, EX10 9LB. See Contact Us for a map.
We help a wide range of people in different situations. We understand how hard it can be to ask for help but if you are struggling to afford food, please do not hesitate. You will be treated with respect and you will find our volunteers are caring and helpful. Here are some examples a client may experience that brings them to us for food help (although they don’t cover all possibilities.)
- lost job and waiting for benefits to start
- change in a relationship or family situation has caused financial struggles
- lost or reduced benefits and needs temporary help
- low income is causing financial problems
- a large bill has come unexpectedly, so money is tighter than usual
- homeless
If you need food support you can call any of the agencies below. It’s usually a very quick and simple process. These are the people who are able to refer you to the Food Bank. They will talk to you in confidence to find out a bit about your situation and to assess your needs. Referrers will then contact us by telephone or email to give us your contact details. We will then call you directly to arrange for you to collect your food. We can also deliver food in certain (very limited) circumstances. If you have no food at all and can’t wait a few days, please let us know.
- Your housing or benefits officer
- East Devon District Council 01404 515 616
- Citizens Advice Bureau 01395 265 070
- Sid Valley Help 01395 892 011
- Gateway 07432 200 671
- Mustard Seed Cafe, All Saints Road Sidmouth 01395 512 225
- Parent Support Advisor, Sidmouth College 01395 514 823
- Parent Support Advisor, Sidmouth Primary 07540 668 525
- Other schools – contact their main office
- Salvation Army Community Worker 07889 755 777
- NHS Community Health Services
- Social Services
- Local Churches
- Your GP at Beacon Health Centre 01395 512 601
Visiting the Food Bank
Collection
• Collection days for food are Tuesday and Friday mornings
• If you have a referral, no appointment needed – come any time between 10.30 and 11.30
• Come to the Food Bank as usual, but you will be asked to wait if it’s not quite ready. If you have a mobile we can text you, if not we will come and find you to let you know.
Deliveries
• Food is delivered from 10.45 on Fridays. Clients must be at home to receive the food or have given us instructions on where to leave it. If you don’t, we will leave the food at your door, but cannot replace any that goes missing.
• Deliveries will only be for clients who live further away from the Food Bank and either do not have a car or do not have access to a car. There may be some exceptions including people who are disabled or unable to leave the house for medical reasons.
Please also remember
• You are able to receive food for up to four weeks per referral.
• Please return carrier bags so that we can re-use them.