Aside from access to affordable food, we’re also looking into the other types of support that we have available and whether these are the best ways to help people on low incomes. By looking at support outside of food, we’re thinking about how we can help people longer term so that they never need to use a food bank or its services again.
As regular readers of our newsletter will know, in this section, we shine a light on someone whose work is vital to the service that we provide at our Foodbank. This month, we spoke to Lucy Ralph, our newly appointed interim Fairbite Network Manager, who supports the functioning of our Fairbite Food Clubs, and ensures that each service has what it needs to support people on the lowest incomes.
Read on to find out about Lucy, her role at the Foodbank, and which one of the marathons that she’s completed is her favourite!
Can you tell us about your background prior to joining the Foodbank?
I have been living and working abroad for much of my life. 27 years were spent in South America where I worked as Project Manager for the British Council, working on projects training artists and other cultural professionals. I moved back to the UK in October 2024, and not long after joined the Foodbank as an administrative volunteer in the office. I then applied for the role of Fairbite Operations Officer in the Fairbite Food Clubs. Most recently, however, I started a new role as the interim Fairbite Network Manager, which is more strategic than the day to day operational side of the service.
What is your role at the Foodbank?
My official title is Fairbite Network Manager, however, I have retained my original role as Fairbite Operations Officer so it’s all rolled into one. As my job title suggests, it has a heavy focus on the operational side of the organisation, which looks at our supply of food, level of volunteering support and logistical capacity. Currently, I’m working with senior management to see how the connection between Foodbank and Fairbite services work more efficiently and cohesively so that we can offer greater support to people on the lowest incomes.
Can you tell us a bit more about how the Fairbite Food Clubs work?
At the moment, we’re formalising a process that identifies people who need regular support. If someone requires this support, that tells us that the root cause of their issue isn’t food, but their income. Once these people are identified, they are offered the opportunity for an income maximisation assessment through one of our referral agencies. Here, a knowledgeable agent can speak about their level of income and see how they can receive additional support, which could lead to money being unlocked, and helping them move away from food bank use.
However, if Fairbite Food Club membership seems to be an appropriate type of support for this person, an application will be sent to us for review where we check the details and eligibility. If accepted, we assign them to a Food Club and provide them with instructions on how to shop.
What does the future of Fairbite look like?
While we are opening a sixth Food Club later this year, our focus is on getting the most out of the ones that we are operating. The Fairbite Food Club in Trumpington, for example, used to offer one session a week which has now increased to two, to maximise the support that that Food Club could offer. Aside from access to affordable food, we’re also looking into the other types of support that we have available and whether these are the best ways to help people on low incomes. By looking at support outside of food, we’re thinking about how we can help people longer term so that they never need to use a food bank or its services again.
Why is running the Fairbite Food Clubs necessary alongside the Foodbank’s usual service?
Fairbite Food Clubs are able to provide longer term support beyond the emergency food provision offered by the Welcome Centres. It provides food people can afford, helps people to feel empowered and connects them with experts who can help and their local community It helps remove obstacles and opens up the possibility of long term, meaningful change. It’s not often that hunger and hardship are easy to change, so offering people on low incomes multifaceted support increases their chances of making the changes that they need.
What do you enjoy when you’re not working at the Foodbank?
I enjoy socialising, sports and I’m also a marathon runner! I’ve finished quite a few in my time, but my favourite was the Los Angeles marathon. It’s such a diverse city, so being able to experience each part of its culture in a unique way as a runner was amazing. I also enjoy walking my dog, who I rescued from Lima, Peru. Lima doesn’t have many parks, so I’m enjoying taking her around all the different parks in the area. She’s loving being in Cambridge just as much as me!