Standing together to fight food poverty

Vicky McKillen

As Southampton City Mission’s Basics Bank Manager, I’m able to give back to an area that means so much to me. I’ve always known about the Basics Bank ever since I was a child. My church regularly donated food to the bank, especially around the time of harvest festival.

I’m proud to be Southampton born and bred. I’ve lived in the Shirley and Freemantle area most of my life. My knowledge of football is limited to Ted Lasso, but that doesn’t stop me from being a big Saints supporter. I still live in the city with my husband James and our adopted dog Luna.

We’re a Christian charity that’s been around since 1963. As an independent and non-denominational Christian Mission, we work with all types of church across the city. The Southampton Basics Bank alone has 120 volunteers and helped feed people 15,529 times last year.

My job ties both my personal and professional worlds together. I’ve got previous project management experience and a degree in Theology from Regents Theological College. I’m bringing all my skills and knowledge to benefit a cause that’s close to my heart. It’s a role that feels like it’s made for me.

I love working with our amazing volunteers too. They’re so committed and dedicate so much time and effort every week. Some of them have been with us for over 13 years. It’s a joy to work alongside them.

The bank itself is a traditional emergency provision food and clothes bank that’s been around for almost 30 years, providing four days’ worth of emergency food for those who need it most. We have five locations across the city that each operate one day a week and four marketplaces that work as pantry-style food membership clubs. Alongside this, we also have a schools’ outreach programme where we deliver our ‘Question of Faith’ workshops as part of RE curriculums.

For me, interacting with clients is the most meaningful part of my role. Most recognize me by my array of ridiculous earrings. My Tic-Tac ones are a crowd favourite! Whilst we can’t fix or solve everything for clients, we’re here to help – and sometimes that makes all the difference. The love and support we share can just take that weight off someone’s shoulders.

My favourite moments come when we’re able to give extra treats to children such as advent calendars and Easter eggs. I was once serving a lovely lady who’d recently learned she was pregnant and had a craving for chocolate, so she was very grateful when I found some in our cupboards for her. These things may seem small, but it can be a big encouragement when people are at their lowest.

We also love connecting with other organisations across the city such as SCRATCH, Citizen’s Advice, Society of St. James, Clear and SVS to name just a few. Our CEO Duncan House and Senior Manager Annette Davis at SCRATCH chair the anti-poverty network in Southampton. This creates space for our sector to unite so we can better support those facing hardship and work as a team. Duncan also chairs the Food Aid Forum, linking up food provision services across the city. 

One of our most recent projects was ‘Together at the Table’ organized in partnership with Southampton Forward and Easy Tz Meals. This is a free cooking class led by local chef Tia Binstead using food bank ingredients, showcasing how surplus food can be turned into healthy and affordable dishes.

Since 2023, we’ve seen a big increase in demand. The cost of living crisis has meant even more people are turning to food banks. They’re ordinary people who are living within their means, but increases in the price of energy, fuel, food and rent has meant they’re now seeking additional support. Naturally, the crisis has meant our donations have dropped too. For the first time in our thirty-year history, 2023 saw us purchasing food in bulk to help fill our food parcels. It’s understandable that people aren’t able to support us when circumstances are difficult for themselves.

Despite the challenging times we’re facing, I believe standing together makes all the difference. Food poverty is a real issue affecting our city and it’s best tackled through a widespread effort. It’s about ensuring everyone has somewhere they can turn to for emergency supplies and a friendly face.

If you’re able to support us, information on drop-off points and what you can donate can be found on our website: https://southamptoncitymission.co.uk/