Foodbanks and Food Pantries

Foodbanks

Across Sefton, there are foodbanks that can help if you can't afford the food, toiletries or household supplies you need.

To find out about your nearest foodbank, visit the Sefton Directory, here. 

Food Pantries

There are a number of food pantries across the Sefton. Food Pantries are different to Foodbanks in that they sell  food at a reduced cost.

This can help you to manage your budget and still be able to have healthy meals at home.

Find out about Sefton's Food Pantries here.

Foodbank Donations welcome

Foodbanks rely on donations of non-perishable food and other goods. 

If you can, please donate any of the items like those listed below, or other non-perishable food items*:  

*Please ensure items are in date.

Toiletries and non-food items

Foodbanks also need non-food items such as:

• Shampoo and soap,
  
  
• Toothbrushes,
  
  
• Toothpaste,
  
  
• Deodorant,
  
  
• Toilet paper,
  
  
• Shower gel,
  
  
• Shaving gel or cream and razors,
  
  
• Hand wipes,
  
  
• Sanitary towels and tampons.

Many also accept household items such as laundry powder or liquids and washing up liquid, as well as baby supplies like nappies, baby wipes and baby food.

Collection points

If you can donate, you can take items to one of the following collection points:

• Bootle Town Hall - Reception
  
  
• Housing Standards Reception
  2nd Floor
  Crown Buildings,
  Eastbank Street,
  Southport

More information on the Foodbank initiative can be found at:

• Trussell Trust
• South Sefton Foodbank
• Southport Foodbank

Thank you for your support.

Healthy Start Vouchers and Vitamins

Healthy Start is a government scheme to improve the health of low-income pregnant women and families on benefits and tax credits. Women who are at least 10 weeks pregnant and families with children under four years old qualify for Healthy Start if the family claim

• Income Support, or
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or
• Child Tax Credit
• Universal Credit Women also qualify during the whole of their pregnancy if they are under 18 when they apply, even if they don’t get any of the above benefits or tax credits.
• Pregnant women get one Healthy Start voucher a week worth £4.25
• Babies under the age of one get two vouchers a week worth a total of £8.50
• Children aged over one and under four get one voucher a week worth £4.25 They can be spent on milk, fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables, fresh, dried, and tinned pulses, or infant formula milk in a wide variety of shops and supermarkets and with milkmen that have registered to take part in the scheme.