Trussell
Supporting local communities to respond to hunger and hardship.
Trussell is here to end hunger in the UK – we know it can be done, but we won’t be able to get there on our own. That’s why having a long-term relationship with a funder like the Pears Foundation is so valuable. It has been particularly helpful that a large part of their funding has been unrestricted – giving us flexibility to build our capacity and resilience, so we’re able to properly to support a network of food banks that is providing nearly twice as many food bank parcels as it was five years ago. The Pears Foundation’s approach is unique, and has been crucial for us, and our network, in being able to respond to that increase while working towards a future where help is no longer needed.Emma Revie, Chief Executive
Trussell
It's difficult to accept that there are families anywhere in the world who can't be sure of their next meal; the fact that these families are right here in Britain, in our own community, is unthinkable. Faith groups have a long tradition of supporting the most vulnerable in their community. Trussell has a tried and tested model for training volunteers, establishing a network of referral agencies and meeting the many logistical challenges involved in operating a foodbank. We see foodbanks as an excellent example of how to mobilise local community support to meet one of the most fundamental of needs.Sir Trevor Pears
Partner since: 2007
Funding invested: £2.4m
- Core: Unrestricted funding
- Project: Income maximisation
Food banks are about much more than food. At their best, they are trusted community spaces where people facing hardship receive practical help, advice and a warm welcome from people in their own communities. While the ultimate aim is that nobody should need emergency food, these local organisations provide vital support while working to address the circumstances that bring people through their doors.
Pears Foundation has partnered with Trussell since 2007, when its network of food banks was still being established. Over almost two decades, we have provided long-term unrestricted funding as Trussell has grown into a nationwide community of independent food banks, supporting local organisations with training, expertise, funding and shared learning.
At the heart of the network are thousands of volunteers who provide emergency food and practical support, listen without judgement and help connect people with other services. Rooted in their communities, food banks are able to build trusted local relationships while drawing on the strength and expertise of a national organisation.
Our long-term partnership has also enabled us to support Trussell as its work has evolved. In 2020, we funded the development of its income maximisation programme, helping food banks connect people with specialist advice so they can access the financial support to which they are entitled. More recently, we have supported Trussell to work with local communities and sector partners to develop and test preventative approaches, helping people access the right support before they need emergency food.
Throughout this evolution, unrestricted funding has remained at the heart of our partnership, giving Trussell the flexibility to strengthen its organisation, support its network and respond to changing need while continuing to test and develop new approaches.
Our partnership with Trussell reflects the importance we place on strong local organisations and trusted community spaces. By providing long-term, flexible support to the national organisation and backing new ideas as they develop, we support a network that responds to immediate hardship while working towards a future in which fewer people need emergency food.