The Village Food Bank is an emerging initiative for low-income LGBTQ+ people in Brighton and Hove to access food, toiletries and other essentials items in a welcoming and affirming community space.

Not enough is known about poverty in the LGBTQ+ community, but we do know that we are more likely to experience poor mental health, longstanding physical illnesses and discrimination in the workplace (Stonewall 2018, NHS 2021), all of which are likely to compound the risk of falling on, or below, the poverty line- even more so if you are a person of colour, trans or non-binary. LGBTQ+ people seeking refuge and sanctuary in the UK also face Home Office-imposed poverty and are at a high risk of destitution (Micro Rainbow 2013).

Alongside the food bank, we hope to offer collaboration opportunities for other LGBTQ+ affirming community services to be available to clients in the same space, such as benefits, housing advice, social groups, and health services in a relaxed, one-stop-shop afternoon.

A home for the food bank (which will be wheelchair-accessible) is in the works but is yet to be confirmed at this early stage, however costs for venue and storage hire, volunteer expenses, essential development and other core costs will all add up quickly, so fundraising now through individual giving and grant funding is imperative. Financial stability in the initial stages of the project, as well as a safety net of funds going forward, will help to establish some security for the project during a challenging time for charity funding across the board, so is our key focus.

We will be doing a call out for donations of non-perishable food, period products, baby food and formula, toiletries and other essential items once we have a storage space set up, and we’ll be keeping the community informed on progress via Instagram (@thevillagefoodbank). In the meantime, we’ve asked supporters to please start storing donations from them and their friends (if they can).

The Village Food Bank will be operating as part of MCC The Village, a by-and-for radically LGBTQ+ inclusive church community in Brighton, but no religious or faith elements will feature as part of food bank service delivery.

1. All LGBT+ Communities