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Churches from across Hampshire County partnered together to create the Eastleigh Basics Bank. The centre is mostly a foodbank for families on a low income or people facing an emergency. However the churches also use donations from businesses and groups local to Southhampton (such as First Wessex Housing Association) to provide other goods to the needy, both for their household and financial needs.

The food bank that was created is now a registered charity (number 1072645) for the city of Southhampton as well as Chandler’s Ford. This means that they use donations from the community as well a rely on volunteers. Any money raised will also be used to provide assistance to the poor, and the Basics Bank does not keep it as profits. This charity designation is key in order for the Eastleigh Basics Bank to meet the demands of the community, and without the help from these donations the centre would not be able to operate.

Anyone that is approved to use the foodbank can be given up to 5 days worth of free food. There will be enough for each member of the home or flat. But the applicant needs a voucher to shop there. So if there are six people living in the property, the Eastleigh Basics Bank may be able to provide as many as 30 days worth of groceries (5 days times six people). This can make a difference in the situation of a family in poverty.

What may be provided includes packets or tins of groceries, meats, dairy, and other boxes of food. If there has been donations of fresh produce or vegetables from people in Southhampton, then this too will be provided from the food bank. The post for the distribution of the boxes of food is Unit G6, The Oasis Centre, Wells Place, Eastleigh, SO50 5PP. The centre is open Tuesday and Thursday, from 10am-3pm, based on the availability of volunteers. The phone number is 07563 609994.

Christmas meals are also served by the churches that are part of the Eastleigh Basics Bank. They use volunteer serves (and donated food from supermarkets) to provide this scheme. It allows the homeless and vulnerable in Hampshire County a place to go. The servers can give the person a friendly chat as well as a hot Christmas meal.

The services from the Eastleigh Basics Bank not only include those from the churches (such as the food bank), but the charity also partners with other organisations in Southampton. There are a number of schemes that operate in Hampshire County. The Basics Bank can link the client to one or more of them for their needs. This will be in addition to given the family the 5 days worth of free food.

They do this in order to provide additional support, such as information on financial assistance for housing such as LHA, linkage to welfare and benefit application sites, school supplies for students, free tax help for older people, and more. The Basics Bank works closely with the Southhampton Citizens Advice Bureau, Eastleigh Borough Council, and First Wessex Housing Association to offer this support.

The team at the Eastleigh Borough Council (phone 023 8068 8046) may not only give the family a voucher for using at the foodbank, but they can also help the client apply to housing benefits or rent deposit schemes. The volunteers can help them complete forms to these benefits and fast-track some applications. They are also involved in the Department for Work and Pensions Local Welfare Scheme, which may help with household supplies, energy bills, and other expenses.

The Basics Bank also partners with Citizens Advice in Eastleigh. People that drop in at the food bank for their tins of groceries often need more serious support. They may be in debt or working at a low paying job. The specialists at Eastleigh Citizens Advice can offer help with these needs and others. What this means is that individuals that use the Basics Bank will often be linked to Citizens Advice for follow up services.

Once again, many churches make up the Basics Bank. They operate from an office at New Community Network, Central Hall, St. Mary Street, Southampton SO14 1NF. The phone number to ring to get in touch is 023 8023 7700.