Updating Food Banks With a Map and Six Nearby Food Banks

The food banks page now covers six food banks and 37 donation points, with a map and a page for each.

Cheltenham Open Data has rebuilt its food banks page. It used to list what two food banks needed. It now covers every food bank within ten miles of Cheltenham town centre, six in all, on a map and in a sortable table showing how far each one is, how many items it is asking for and when that list last changed.

Each food bank has its own page: Cheltenham Foodbank, Cheltenham Open Door, Springbank Community Group, Gloucester Foodbank, Tewkesbury Foodbank and North Cotswold Foodbank. The pages list what the food bank needs, what it already has plenty of, its contact details and, where it has them, its locations and 37 donation points across the six, such as supermarket collection points, with opening hours.

FAQs

What Is New on the Food Banks Page?

  • Food banks go from two to six, with a map and a table of the nearest. Each food bank has a page of its own with its needed items, a “please don’t donate” list, contact details, locations and donation points on a map, and opening hours for each donation point.

Which Food Banks Are Included?

  • Every food bank within ten miles of Cheltenham town centre: Cheltenham Foodbank, Cheltenham Open Door, Springbank Community Group, Gloucester Foodbank, Tewkesbury Foodbank and North Cotswold Foodbank. Nearby places such as Gloucester and Tewkesbury are included because they are within that distance.

Where Does the Food Bank Data Come From?

  • Give Food, a registered charity that keeps the UK’s largest public database of food banks and the items they ask for. The data is published under CC BY 4.0, and each food bank’s page links back to its original entry.

How Often Is It Updated?

  • Every few hours. Food banks change what they need often, so the page shows the date each list last changed. Some lists change every few weeks, while others may not have changed for months.

What Does “Please Don’t Donate” Mean?

  • Some food banks tell Give Food which items they already have plenty of, so you can avoid buying more of those. It appears on a food bank’s page when they have published one.

Is the List of Needed Items Complete?

  • Treat it as a guide. Lists are shown exactly as the food bank published them, in their original order, and food banks often have more detail than a simple list can show. Check the food bank’s own shopping list before you buy.

Why Does Springbank Community Group Have No List?

  • It hasn’t published a list of needed items, so its page shows its contact details and location only. Contact them or visit their website to find out how you can help.

Where Can I Drop Off a Donation?

  • Each food bank’s page lists its donation points, such as supermarket collection points and community groups, with addresses, opening hours, wheelchair access and a map pin for each. Check the opening hours before you go.

Do I Need a Referral to Get Help From a Food Bank?

  • Many food banks ask for a referral from a professional such as a GP, school or advice charity. Contact the food bank first to check how it works.