Our History

In February 2010, I was on a church weekend away when I learned that one family from our church had gone two days without food. I decided to cut short the weekend and attend the service on Sunday in our church. The mother had lost her job, the dad could not find any work, and mortgage was to be paid…

I remember explaining the situation and then reading at the front of the congregation “…but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together”. I asked that we start a collection of food to help families in crisis.

That very day, a small foodbank started, but soon after, we realised that the need was not just in our church, but also in the whole community.

In April 2010, following a meeting with a number of churches, City Gates and King’s Church Ilford* decided to join the Trussell Trust, network of foodbanks in the UK and start Redbridge Foodbank.

Georges Kisombola

* Now known as Jubilee Church Ilford

Redbridge foodbank launch September 2010