Food bank at risk of closing appeals for £40,000

A food bank says it is at "significant risk of closure" as it hopes to raise £40,000 to secure its future.

The Whitehawk Food Bank in Brighton says it is at a "critical moment" because of "unforeseen costs" and some of its funding bids failing, which means it has "run out of funding options".

"Whilst our future looks uncertain, we are determined to do whatever we can to keep the food bank open," a charity spokesperson said.

"The need for a food bank in Whitehawk still exists and it would be devastating loss to the community if we were to close our doors."

All five of the charity's paid staff roles had to come to an end because of the lack of funding, the food bank said.

It has launched an appeal to raise £40,000, which would be enough to secure its future for the next year and fund one full-time staff member, and more than £10,000 has already been raised.

The charity launched in 2015 and had fed more than 40,000 people in that time, including more than 13,000 children.

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