The Methodist Church has been working alongside the Anglican Church in Cornwall to set up two independent food banks, which have given out over 14,000 meals since August 2013.

The two food banks are housed at Methodist Chapels in the Camborne and Redruth Circuit, and managed by a Methodist steward who has helped to offer meals to individuals and families that are most in need.

Rev. Mike Firbank, Vicar of Camborne and chair of the Camborne, Pool and Redruth charity Transformation CPR, said: “There are six independent food banks in the West Cornwall area, two of which are housed at Methodist chapels, and they have now applied to have the first Fairshare warehouse in Cornwall, a transportation hub for food banks. Tesco have already donated a lorry-load to them. Last month the food banks gave out thousands of meals and have also been trying to lobby politicians to address the needs within the region. Cornwall Council will have to cut another £190 million from its budget in the next few years so local authority support is highly unlikely.”

The CPR food banks have over 40 volunteers helping each week to distribute over 23,000 meals to over 500 and 40 families. Cold weather, high unemployment, and changes in council tax benefits have been contributing factors to the rise in numbers of people who are in desperate need of food.

Collection points for the food banks can be found in Tesco in Redruth, Camborne and Pool, and all 16 of the Methodist chapels in the Camborne-Redruth Circuit.