New Tiverton food pantry empowers residents with affordable, dignified options

In response to rising demand for food assistance and the shifting needs of the Tiverton community, CHAT (Churches Housing Action Team) has launched a new food pantry model aimed at providing affordable food in a sustainable and empowering way.

Alison Padfield, CEO of CHAT explained: “Towards the end of last year, we realised that there were more people needing to use us once a month or more frequently from the food bank than before.”

This trend highlighted a troubling shift: individuals were no longer using the food bank solely for short-term crises but rather as a means to sustain ongoing living.

She continued: “We didn’t want to be part of the problem; we wanted to help people get out of that cycle.”

The pantry, which allows clients to contribute financially towards the cost of food, reinvests these contributions into its supplies. This model fosters a sense of membership and agency among clients, a marked difference from traditional food banks.

"It’s a transaction," Alison said, “There’s much more choice, and within that choice, there’s some dignity for the people visiting.”

CHAT envisions the pantry as a tool not only for food provision but also for financial education and empowerment. “The pantry helps people budget,” she said, explaining that clients can make a weekly contribution, which supports their budgeting habits.

This model also enables the staff to engage clients on issues contributing to their food insecurity.

“We’ve seen people come in who didn’t realise they could claim certain benefits,” Alison said, highlighting how the pantry opens doors to additional support, from energy advice to partnerships with other charities.

A key feature of the pantry is its layout, which Alison described as “laid out like a shop” where clients select their items based on preference. “It puts the power and the control back into the clients' hands,” she added, saying that this autonomy can have a significant impact on client morale.

While CHAT remains committed to operating its traditional food bank for those in crisis, the pantry represents a more sustainable, long-term approach to addressing food insecurity. “If people are in a crisis, the food bank is still here for them,” she clarified, but the pantry offers support for individuals facing more chronic financial challenges.

The pantry’s focus on building self-reliance complements CHAT’s other services, such as housing and debt advice, which frequently intersect with food insecurity.

Alison highlighted the interconnected nature of these issues: “If you’re struggling in your housing, or with debt and money, then almost that food insecurity is part of that.” By integrating food support with financial and housing guidance, CHAT seeks to address the broader spectrum of challenges its clients face.

The need for CHAT’s services has grown significantly in the past year amid the cost-of-living crisis, and Alison confirmed a marked increase in demand across all areas. “We’re constantly seeing new clients who have got to the end of juggling things and needing that help,” she said, noting the additional pressure the housing crisis has placed on individuals and families alike.

Looking to the future, CHAT’s vision extends beyond immediate relief toward long-term solutions. “Income maximisation, helping people with budgeting,” she said, “If they can manage independently, they won’t need us.”

She recounted the success of one client who, after losing her job, needed only a brief period of assistance before achieving stability again.

“No one should be homeless or hungry,” Alison said.