Whitehawk Foodbank

What Whitehawk Foodbank does

Whitehawk Foodbank is a registered charity (operated by St Cuthman's Parish Church, charity number 1175527) headquartered at St Cuthman's Church and The Valley Social Centre in Whitehawk, Brighton. Founded in 2015 by three Brighton churches in partnership with The Trussell Trust's UK network of 428 foodbanks, the organisation distributes short-term, three-day emergency food parcels to individuals and families in crisis within the Whitehawk and East Brighton catchment. Demand is channelled through a voucher referral system issued by a network of more than 20 partner agencies — Citizens Advice, housing support officers, health visitors, social services, Money Advice Plus, Christians Against Poverty, and others — ensuring that food provision is coupled with underlying causes-of-crisis support.

The service is delivered through a single physical foodbank centre (Thursday 11:00–13:00) and a home-delivery lane for vulnerable or self-isolating clients. The technology layer is minimal and inherited rather than proprietary: The Trussell Trust's E-voucher system handles electronic referral processing, with operational workflows, dietary-specific parcels (gluten-free, halal, vegetarian, diabetic), and 'Monthlies' period-poverty packs assembled manually by 50+ weekly volunteers.

The economic model is a donations-and-grants charity rather than a commercial revenue engine. Funding streams comprise individual financial donations (Givey, text-to-give, standing orders, Gift Aid), corporate partnerships (Waitrose, Asda, Co-operative, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Nationwide), community foundation grants (Sussex Community Foundation, Homity Trust), and food donations — over 90% of distributed food is publicly donated via 9 Brighton & Hove collection points and the Bankuet online platform. All services are free at the point of use. Since 2015 the foodbank has supported over 17,269 people; year-on-year throughput was 2,952 parcels in 2022 and 2,659 in 2023.

Name

Whitehawk Foodbank

Legal name

St Cuthman's Parish Church

Website

https://thewhitehawk.foodbank.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Whitehawk Foodbank is a Brighton-based charity, operated by St Cuthman's Parish Church as part of The Trussell Trust network, providing three-day emergency food parcels to individuals and families in crisis via a voucher referral system, supported by 50+ weekly volunteers and corporate food-donation partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Bank Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD)

Keywords

• Emergency food assistance
• Food bank services
• Charitable food distribution
• Community food support
• Food poverty relief

Headquarters

HQ city

Brighton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Financial Donations: Individual and corporate donations, standing orders, text donations (FOOD to 70470), bank transfers, cheques, and online giving via Givey platform. Gift Aid claimed on eligible donations for additional 25% from government.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with businesses including Waitrose, Asda, Co-operative, Sainsbury's, Nationwide, and others who provide food donations, fundraising support, and volunteer assistance.
3. Grant Funding: Relies on grants and donations to keep afloat. Foodbank is run by St Cuthman's Parish Church (charity number 1175527) and benefits from community foundation grants.
4. Food Donations: Over 90% of food distributed is donated by the public through collection points, supermarket drives, and online food deliveries via Bankuet.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Whitehawk Foodbank provides three-day emergency food parcels to individuals and families in crisis through a voucher-based referral system operated in partnership with local agencies. The foodbank is part of The Trussell Trust network and is supported by 50+ weekly volunteers and corporate partnerships with major retailers. Supplementary services include an Advice Cafe for financial and welfare guidance, home delivery for vulnerable clients, and food donation collection across Brighton and Hove.

Product overview

Whitehawk Foodbank is a charity providing emergency food support services as part of the Trussell Trust network. Their core offering is the emergency food parcel service, which provides three days of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable food to individuals and families in crisis via a voucher referral system. The service is delivered through their foodbank center at St Cuthman's Church and includes complementary services such as an Advice Cafe offering financial and welfare advice, home delivery for vulnerable clients, and multiple donation channels (food, money, volunteering, corporate partnerships). The organization operates as a single integrated service rather than a platform with separate modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Food Parcel Service Provides three days of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable food to individuals and families in crisis through a voucher referral system. Parcels are adaptable for dietary requirements (gluten-free, halal, vegetarian, diabetic). Free of charge to clients with a valid voucher issued by a partner referral agency.
• Foodbank Voucher Referral System A voucher-based referral pathway where partner agencies (Citizens Advice, housing support officers, children's centres, health visitors, social services) issue electronic vouchers to individuals in crisis, redeemed at the foodbank centre for emergency food parcels. Uses The Trussell Trust's E-voucher system.
• Advice Cafe A weekly drop-in service (Thursdays 11am-1pm) providing access to financial, debt, welfare, disability, refugee, and youth advice alongside food support. Connects clients with Money Advice Plus, Christians Against Poverty, Possability People, Brighton Housing Trust, Voices in Exile, and the Youth Advice Centre.
• Food Donation Collection Network of 9 food donation collection points across Brighton and Hove at ASDA Brighton Marina, Waitrose Hove, Co-operative Food stores, Nationwide Building Society branches, Infinity Foods, and St Peter's Church, with online delivery options via Bankuet and major supermarket direct deliveries.
• Home Delivery Service Food parcel delivery service for clients who are vulnerable, self-isolating, or have mobility needs, with a password verification system for security. Introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quantifiable outcome

• Distributed 2,659 emergency food parcels in 2023
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Money Advice PluscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner providing welfare benefits and debt advice. Phone: 01273 664000. Helps clients address underlying financial issues contributing to food bank need.
• Christians Against Poverty (CAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner providing debt advice and money management services. Phone: 0800 328 0006. Supports clients in addressing financial crises.
• Possability PeoplecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner providing specialist advice for disability benefits. Phone: 01273 894040.
• Brighton Housing TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner providing advice on immigration, housing and welfare benefits. Phone: 01273 645400.
• Voices in ExilecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner providing specific advice for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. Phone: 01273 328598.
• Youth Advice CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner providing support and advice for 16-24 year olds. Phone: 01273 624432.
• WaitrosecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner with collection point at Nevill Road, Hove. Ongoing food donation support.
• Co-operative FoodcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner with multiple collection points across Brighton (Whitehawk Rd, Ridgeland House Dyke Road). Regular food donation collections.
• AsdacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner through 'Fight Hunger, Create Change' program. Collection point at Brighton Marina store. Anton Binder serves as Community Champion.
• Nationwide Building SocietyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner with collection points at London Rd and West Street branches. Financial support for foodbank operations.
• Sainsbury'sminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner providing food donation support.
• Infinity FoodsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal retailer partner with collection point at 25 North Road, Brighton. Has donated over 300kg of food to date.
• The Co-operative BankminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner providing volunteer support during supermarket collection events.
• TescocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner conducting twice-yearly in-store collection days with 20% cash top-up on donations. Major collection events including over 680kg in single 2017 collection.
• Whitehawk F.C.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal football club that has conducted food collection days, collecting nearly 190 kilos of food at one event.
• The Trussell TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational charity supporting communities and churches to open foodbanks across the UK. Network of 428 foodbanks. Provides E-voucher system, training, support, and 'More Than Food' program framework. Whitehawk Foodbank is part of this network.
• St Cuthman's ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding church partner (Parish Church). Vicar Rev Steve Tennant leads the initiative. Registered charity number 1175527. Primary operational base for the foodbank.
• Emmanuel Church (Marina)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding church partner working together towards stopping hunger in the local area.
• St Peter's Church (Brighton)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding church partner with food donation collection point. Supporting the foodbank initiative.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Felix Project: London-based charity that rescues surplus food and delivers it to front-line charities and schools. Directly comparable model of combining food rescue with distribution to community organizations, though primarily London-focused.
• City Harvest London: London food rescue charity redistributing surplus food to homeless hostels, refuges, and community kitchens. Comparable model of surplus-food-to-frontline-services logistics with charity-run volunteer operations.
• FoodCycle: UK charity that combines surplus food with volunteer power to cook and serve community meals. Comparable community-meal model addressing food insecurity, with similar volunteer-driven operating structure across multiple UK sites.

Broad incumbents

• The Trussell Trust: The national umbrella charity that supports a UK network of 428 foodbanks, including Whitehawk. Directly comparable as the parent network providing shared infrastructure, training, and the E-voucher system that Whitehawk depends on.
• FareShare: UK's largest food redistribution charity, redirecting surplus food from industry to charities and community groups. Comparable mission of tackling food insecurity via surplus-food logistics, but operates at national scale and focuses on redistribution upstream rather than front-line parcel distribution.
• Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN): UK membership network for independent (non-Trussell) food banks. Relevant structural peer because many independent food banks operate outside the Trussell model that Whitehawk belongs to, offering comparison on governance, funding, and reach.

Regional players

• Brighton Food Factory (Surplus Food Project): Brighton-based surplus food redistribution charity serving the same geographic region as Whitehawk. Regional peer offering overlapping anti-food-waste and food-access services in East Sussex.

Others

• Christian Solidarity International (CSI) UK: Faith-rooted UK charity operating food and aid programs internationally. Comparable faith-anchored governance and food-assistance programs, though operates internationally rather than locally like Whitehawk.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/whitehawkfb
• Facebookfacebook.com/WhitehawkFoodbank
• Instagraminstagram.com/whitehawkfoodbank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whitehawk-foodbank

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Whitehawk Foodbank