Strengthening community food banks through trustee recruitment

Across the UK, Trussell supports a network of more than 1,400 independent food banks. Each one is rooted in its local community - often started by people who saw a need and stepped forward to help their neighbours. Over time, many of these grassroots initiatives have added to the ways they support local people, providing not only emergency food but also advice, financial inclusion support, and welcoming spaces for people facing hardship.

With this growth has come an increasing need for strong governance and specialist expertise at board level. Through Reach, Trussell has been able to support food banks to recruit trustees and skills-based volunteers who bring new experience, confidence and capability to these local organisations - helping them continue to serve their communities with dignity and care.

Miranda Beebe, Head of Food Bank Support at Trussell, explains:

“One of the things that makes Trussell food banks unique is that they start with the community. People see a need locally and step forward to respond to it. Many of the food banks in our network were started by volunteers who thought they might run it for a year or two - and then suddenly it’s fifteen years later and they’re supporting thousands of people.

“That growth means the organisations themselves have changed. What started as a small volunteer project is now often a busy charity with multiple centres, staff, volunteers, partnerships and data systems. The role of the board of trustees has become absolutely crucial in making sure those organisations remain safe, legal and dignified in what they do.

“When food banks come to us looking for help with trustee recruitment, it’s usually because they’ve already tried everything locally. They’ve spoken to the people they know and asked around their community, but they need new skills and perspectives to help the charity grow and respond to the challenges they’re facing. The guidance given by Reach supports the advice we give about successful trustee recruitment, making Reach such a valuable partner for us. 

“Simply having the opportunity to use the Reach platform changes the conversation. It encourages boards to pause and think properly about what they actually need - whether that’s finance expertise, communications skills, governance knowledge or data experience. 

“One of the things that really helps bring that to life is being able to see the people on the platform. When food banks look through Reach and see individuals sharing their profiles - with their photos, their professional backgrounds and the skills they’re offering - it suddenly makes the idea of recruiting very real. It helps boards understand what’s possible and gives them the confidence to ask for skills they might never have thought to look for before.

“We’ve posted around 85 trustee roles through Reach in the past few years, and roughly two-thirds have resulted in successful recruitment. For food banks that had already exhausted their normal routes, that is hugely significant. It means bringing in new people who are committed, knowledgeable and ready to contribute.

“What we’re seeing is that skills-based volunteers and trustees can make a transformational difference. We’ve had trustees introduce entirely new data systems that help food banks understand demand in their community. Others have strengthened fundraising, communications or governance. These are changes that help food banks operate more confidently and sustainably.

“And because our food banks are so community-led, the impact flows straight back into the places they serve. When a board becomes stronger, the organisation becomes stronger - and that means better support for people who walk through the door looking for help.

“What’s been particularly powerful is how these successes spread across the network. When one food bank recruits a great trustee or a skills-based volunteer and sees the difference it makes, they tell other food banks. The learning travels quickly, and suddenly more organisations feel confident to try the same approach.

“That’s why Reach has become such an important part of how we support our food banks. It gives them the confidence, the tools and the connections they need to strengthen their organisations - and ultimately strengthen the communities they serve.”