Salvation Army in Swindon alarmed by rising food poverty

With the summer holidays in full swing, The Salvation Army in Swindon is seeing an increase in families struggling to put food on the table. As the cost-of-living crisis pushing more parents into impossible choices—between feeding their children or paying bills—the demand for food parcels and support services has surged. 

Theresa Torr, leader of The Salvation Army in Swindon Gorse Hill, says the church and charity is seeing a sharp rise in referrals to local food banks. However, limited funding and volunteer numbers mean they can only do so much to help. 

Theresa said, “No parent should ever have to choose between feeding their child and keeping the lights on. But with prices rising, these heartbreaking decisions are becoming a daily reality for too many families. We’re doing all we can—running kids' clubs and breakfast sessions—but the need is growing faster than our resources.” 

During the holidays, The Salvation Army at Gorse Hill is hosting a two-week kids' club and "Breakfast with a Book" sessions twice a week to provide meals and support. These services are already well-attended, but staff shortages due to volunteers’ own family commitments add further strain. 

The charity is calling for donations and volunteers to help meet the rising demand.

Sharon Robison, leader of The Salvation Army in Swindon Citadel Corps says with more families than ever facing food poverty, The Salvation Army’s work has never been more critical. 

Sharon said, “With food poverty affecting more families than ever, our frontline support is vital. We first provide what we can directly through our own resources before referring to Swindon Food Collective. We have a food shed outside our hall which is open every day; 7am to 7pm - stocked through daily supermarket collections - helps prevent both hunger and food waste. It's heartening to see people from all walks of life using this service, knowing we're making a real difference in our community while keeping good food out of landfill.”

During the summer holidays, The Salvation Army at Citadel is opening its School Holiday Breakfast club on Monday's and Wednesdays from 8.30am - 10.30am. This is free and open to families, and adults need to accompany their children.

The Salvation Army in Swindon serves its community through a blend of spiritual support and practical interventions, fostering connection and addressing diverse needs across Swindon Citadel and Gorse Hill locations. 

At Gorse Hill, the Community Support Hub offers food bank provisions, debt and money management advice, addiction support, and referrals to specialist services, ensuring no one faces hardship alone. They also host adult learning courses twice a week, empowering attendees with new skills. Additionally, they run a weekly lunch club, social groups for seniors, and toddler groups, while promoting child literacy through free book distributions with the National Literacy Trust. 

The Salvation Army at Swindon Citadel offers a free breakfast club for children to tackle food insecurity and a food bank for families in crisis. Recognising the importance of mental health and wellbeing, it provides counselling services and hosts 'Singing by Heart'—a dementia-friendly singing group that brings joy and connection to those affected by memory loss. 

Together, these efforts provide essential resources, social opportunities, and a welcoming space for all, reflecting the Army’s commitment to holistic community care. To learn more about their work or to donate to their causes visit their websites: Swindon Gorse Hill | The Salvation Army; Swindon Citadel | The Salvation Army.