Focus Forum: Supporting Food Bank Users

Focus Forum Details:

Date	Tuesday, 14th May 2024
Time	1100 - 1200
Maximum number of participants	30
Who is this for?	This Focus Forum is intended for staff and volunteers who work with food bank users. This includes people making referrals to food banks, distributing food parcels or providing advice to food bank users. There will also be an overview of the Wiltshire Citizens Advice food bank services and an update about trends over the past year.

#	Item	Facilitator(s)
1	Welcome and Introductions	Benedict van der Linde, Wiltshire Money Partnerships Manager, Wiltshire Money
2	Facilitated Discussion (suggested topics): Have there been changes in food bank usage in the past year? Increased numbers or decreased numbers Increased reliance on food banks Changes to reasons people are accessing food banks What support is available currently - has this become more accessible in food banks over the past year? What kind of support is needed going forward? Advice? Tenancy sustainment? Emergency housing? Support work - ie taking actions for clients? Are recent budgetary changes announced likely to have an impact on food bank use? Increase in LHA rates Changes to DROs - removal of £90 fee, increase of debt and asset amounts Benefit uprating	Kate Ness, Project Manager, Citizens Advice Wiltshire
3	Focus Forum close	Benedict van der Linde, Wiltshire Money Partnerships Manager, Wiltshire Money