Foodbank donations pic: Darius Norvilas

Workers for a housing charity have been approved as official voucher holders for Hackney foodbanks, enabling them to identify and assist residents in crisis.

Income advisors for Sanctuary Housing can now issue vouchers that will allow residents to redeem three days emergency food from Trussell Trust Hackney foodbanks.

Sanctuary staff have been provided with guidelines and information on assessing needs but the company insist there is “no typical service user,” and that the foodbanks can help “all sorts of residents, in all sorts of situations.”

Meghan Zinkewich-Peotti, Sanctuary Housing’s partnerships manager, said: “I am so pleased that our income advisors are now able to issue foodbank vouchers. They work on the frontline with residents so are able to find out quickly if someone is facing a crisis.

“This will not only mean that we can help out in the short term with the vouchers, but also offer our residents support for the long term, helping them get back on track.”

The Trussell Trust foodbank network works in partnership with local churches and organisations to bring foodbanks to communities across the UK and has Foodbank Distribution Centres in Hoxton, Upper Clapton and Stoke Newington, each of which are open once a week.

Christine Bamigbola from the London Trussell Trust foodbanks added: “Trussell Trust foodbanks rely on partnerships with organisations like Sanctuary to help us to identify people who are facing hunger and make sure that they are helped.

“Partnerships are vital to making sure that people in genuine need are able to access food and support right when they need it. We are really pleased to be working with Sanctuary to help stop hunger locally.”