Food banks and community pantries

Food banks are community organisations that can help if you can’t afford the food you need.

You’ll usually need to get a referral to a food bank before you can use it.

Getting a referral

A good place to ask for a referral is your nearest Citizens Advice. Tell them you need the food bank - they'll probably make you an appointment to discuss your situation with an adviser.

The adviser will ask you some questions about your income and needs. They can check if you should be getting any benefits you're not currently claiming and tell you about other local help you could get. The adviser can also give you advice about budgeting and any debts you have and refer you to your nearest food bank, if you're eligible.

If you can't go to Citizens Advice

You can ask for a referral from an organisation that’s already supporting you - for example, a charity, school or children’s centre.

Community pantries

We also have a number of community pantries that operate in the borough. We've included links to the Romsey Community Services Pantry and YMCA Community Fridge Facebook pages below. Here you'll be able to find out more about how to access their services, including their opening hours and what they have available.