About Swindon Food Collective

We are an independent food bank in Swindon.

Welcome to Swindon Food Collective

Welcome to Swindon Food Collective. Your local food bank.

We are an independent charity that aims to help people in Swindon, or the surrounding area who are suffering from financial hardship and finding it difficult to provide food for themselves, their family or dependants. We are here to help.

Memorandum and articles

What we do

We are an independent food bank in Swindon and currently feed nearly 7,500 people per year, one third of these are children.

We receive donations of non-perishable, tinned or dried food and toiletries from churches, schools, local companies, community groups, supermarkets and individuals.

From these donations, food boxes are prepared for individuals, couples and families. We work with a large number of approved organisations, schools, doctors and social workers who can refer people in crisis to us. We provide food, a friendly chat and try to signpost people for further help. We have 8 distribution centres around Swindon and surrounding areas where food can be collected.

Our Trustees

Meet the Swindon Food Collective Trustees

Helen Gerrish

Trustee

Helen joined the previous Swindon Food bank as a volunteer in March 2013 after leaving Nationwide where she worked for 26 years. Helen has a wealth of experience in banking, finance, business & product development. Helen is one of the founding directors/trustees of Swindon Food Collective. Helen took over as chair of the Board in September 2020.

Debbie Edwards

Trustee

Debbie started volunteering at Swindon Food Collective in 2019 before joining the Trust Board in January 2020. Debbie is a former Chartered Legal Executive and borough councillor. Debbie has many years of experience working in the community as a volunteer. She is also treasurer of a school PTA.

Julie Bond

Trustee

Julie joined the Trust Board in 2020. She has been a volunteer for Swindon Food Collective for 7 years and it is a charity that she cares greatly about. Julie has many years of experience working in NHS Healthcare (40+) and therefore many years supporting patients at their most vulnerable, when in need and distress. She has volunteered for 20 years for The Filling Station, feeding the vulnerable and homeless of Swindon.

Mike Davies

Trustee

Mike was appointed as a Trustee in 2020. Mike is the Financial Analytics Manager for the National Trust and a Treasurer for a scouts group as well as being active on committees for amateur dramatics and other activities. He has previously been a school governor at primary and secondary level, and was a maths teacher for 14 years. Mike has lived in Swindon for almost 20 years and is keen to contribute to the town's well-being.

Sandra Bradley

Trustee

Sandra has volunteered at Swindon Food Collective since January 2020 after leaving WHSmith where she worked for 25 years as Books Trading Controller. Sandra was co-opted to the board of trustees in January 2021.

Tony Owen

Co-opted Trustee

Tony joined the Swindon Food Collective as a volunteer in 2019 after a career as a mechanical engineer. He worked for 20 years at BT in Procurement, Financial accounting, Quality Management Systems (introducing ISO 9001) and finally as an Auditor. Tony was co-opted to the Board in May 2022.

Sally Austen

Co-opted Trustee

Sally joined Swindon Food Collective in 2021 as a volunteer. She was a project manager for over 25 years in a variety of organisations in both the public and private sectors, and has volunteered in the community since 2013. Sally was co-opted to the Board in May 2022.

What are you looking to do?

Get food

Donate food

Donate funds