Study title

United Kingdom

Organization

The sample frame for this study was provided by the Independent Food Aid Network, who, over summer 2017 to Spring 2018, identified 558 independent food banks operating in England. These were defined as venues or distribution points which were distributing emergency food parcels at least once a week. Some of these were part of an umbrella organisation, which operated multiple food banks. The 558 food banks belonged to a total of 454 organisations. Of these, 89% operated only one food bank, 6% operated two food banks, and 4% operated 3 or more, up to a maximum of 14 food banks. Of the 558 food banks, we selected a random target sample of 179, representing 141 organisations. This sample size accommodated a 60% non-response rate to provide a margin of error of +/-8.5%. Recruitment was carried out at the level of the organisation, since often a single staff member oversaw multiple food banks and could respond on behalf of each site, though all data collected relates to individual sites. Food banks were invited to participate in the study by email or by telephone. Initial approaches were followed up by telephone calls and/or emails if a first approach yielded no response. Upon inviting the 179 food banks to participate in the study, it was discovered 12 food banks from one organisation were no longer providing a weekly distribution service, rendering them ineligible to participate. A further seven food banks were no longer operating, and one other food bank was discovered to be a part of The Trussell Trust’s food bank network. Of the remaining 159 eligible food banks, 114 participated, reflecting a response rate of 71.7%.The survey was conducted over the telephone with persons with sufficient knowledge about the selected food banks’ origins and processes of establishment, current operations, and operational challenges. In 64% of cases, the survey respondent was the food bank manager or coordinator, but other respondents included trustees or other food bank staff. The questionnaire covered: the operational characteristics of independent food banks including when their operation commenced, how they are staffed, opening times, how and if data is collected, what food parcels comprise, as well as potential factors influencing these characteristics including funding, space availability, the influence of external organisations; the groups food banks serve and how people access their services; how food banks respond to changes in demand, and opinions about how food bank usage could be reduced; food banks’ aims, services offered in addition to food aid, and other activities engaged in both locally and nationally related to food poverty.