New foodbank service is set to open in Battle

The Battle Branch of the Bexhill Foodbank, which will be based at the Benedicta Whistler Centre at St Mary’s Church, will open on June 18 and will open every Wednesday between 1-3pm.

It is part of the Bexhill Foodbank, which is run in partnership with churches in Battle and Bexhill facilitated by ‘Churches Together in Bexhill’ and works in partnership the Trussell Trust national network of foodbanks.

Through the experience of the foodbank in Bexhill it became apparent that a foodbank was needed to serve Battle and the surrounding villages.

People who are in crisis will be able to obtain a voucher entitling them to a three day supply of emergency food from various care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers, head teachers, Citizen Advice Bureau Staff and the police.

The care professionals are best placed to assess need and make sure that it is genuine.

With the opening of the Battle Branch it will mean that there will be a foodbank open three days a week in Rother.

Vouchers can be exchanged at either Bexhill Foodbank or the Battle Branch.

All the food given out is donated by the public and donation bins can be found in all four churches in Battle and in the Co-op, Jempsons and Tesco Express.

A ‘foodbank shopping list’ can be found on the front of the bins if anyone would like to buy a few extra items to help feed people in crisis.

All four churches in Battle are heavily involved in this project providing food and volunteers.

The volunteers operate according to Christian principles of compassion, honesty, integrity, kindness and care of all people regardless of backgrounds or beliefs. Non-churchgoers are also welcome to volunteer.

The Dean of Battle, Dr John Edmondson, said: “It is a sadness of our times that more and more people are finding themselves in difficult circumstances.

“I am delighted that members of the churches and wider community in Battle are joining together in this way to try to ensure that no-one in our local area needs to be without food in times of genuine hardship”.