Rutland Foodbank is getting ready to mark a successful decade of feeding the community.

Rutland Foodbank is a local charity supporting households that are "facing the heat or eat dilemma". The demand for their services has seen a sharp increase following the cost-of-living crisis.

Over the last year, Rutland Foodbank has fed record numbers, including nearly 1,000 local children.

The team said: "We wish to extend our grateful thanks to our wonderful donors who arranged collections during the year of food and toiletries."

However, the work never stops at Rutland Foodbank, and the team have recently shared an 'autumn wish-list' of items most needed by the service and its users ahead of the harvest.

Rutland Foodbank is looking for goods ahead of the autumn harvest. Image credit: Rutland Foodbank.

Now, they will be marking ten years of feeding the local community.

Ali Wainwright, Chair of Trustees at Rutland Foodbank said: "Once again we had a busy year as everyone felt the impact of the cost of living increases. We were able to deliver over 750 emergency food and toiletries parcels to over 280 households (42% who needed help for the first time). This is a testament to the amazing network of donors, supporters, referral agencies and of course our wonderful volunteers. A community network we are rightly proud of.

"We reach our 10th Birthday on Saturday 23 September. I'm sure that those founding volunteers never thought that there would be on on-going and increasing need for a foodbank ten years hence. Thank goodness they gave their time and skills so freely to establish the Rutland Foodbank, we are indebted to them."

Ali continued: "Sadly it is hard to see a time when we will no longer need Foodbanks. The Trussell Trust, alongside the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, has launched a new campaign, calling on the UK government to Guarantee our Essentials. We live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, and yet people here in Rutland are going without the essentials we all need to get by.

"Everyone's circumstances can change. Losing your job, needing to care for a sick family member, breaking up with your partner – are things that can happen to any of us. We can't always deal with what life throws at us on our own, which is why we need to have a social security system in place that supports us all to afford the essentials while we recover from setbacks. 

"As part of the Trussell Trust network of Foodbanks we are asking the UK government to make sure the basic rate of Universal Credit at least covers life's essentials and that support can never be pulled below that level. It's time to guarantee our essentials. We support this campaign as we see first-hand how low levels of social security affect people in our county. Please watch this video to understand more and join the campaign online."

Call 07582 783363 to find out how and where to donate.

Those wishing to donate money can do so here.

Find out more on the Rutland Foodbank website, where you can donate or access support from the local team.