Partner agencies refer people in genuine need to us. Our partner agencies include doctors’ surgeries, social services, Citizens Advice (CA), charities, schools and churches, health visitors and pharmacies: those best placed assess need and refer people for the short term help they need. In an average year we work alongside around 30 partner agencies and deliver nearly 2000 food parcels.

• Volunteers work on a rostered basis and we try to be flexible with shifts. Most volunteers are typically rostered for one or two sessions per month.
• Volunteers need to be reasonably physically fit in order to ‘lift and shift’ standard-sized supermarket shopping bags, including on occasion carrying bags up stairs.
• Volunteers need to have independent transport to/from our Sherborne depot and delivery teams must include a car owner/driver to carry out deliveries.
• Volunteers are required to complete the required application procedure and be mindful of our loan working policy.

We also run a stand-by volunteer list, so that new volunteers can be called up when needed.