A foodbank which works with more than 5,000 people annually has teamed up with a local business to help streamline increasing costs related to purchases.
Witney and West Oxfordshire Foodbank combats poverty and hunger by providing nutritionally balanced emergency food packages and access to financial and other advice to people who are referred in crisis.
Its volunteers have now partnered with M&M Zero – the UK’s first zero emission waste collection service based in Cassington – to collect and transport price monitored purchases from supermarkets to the charity’s base at Cottsway House each week.
The partnership has been prompted by an increasing requirement for the foodbank to buy its own food to fill packages.
Today, 40 per cent of food items are purchased by Witney and West Oxfordshire Foodbank. Prior to the pandemic, only two per cent of items were internally purchased with 98 per cent of the food distributed donated.
Maria Grindley, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Witney and West Oxfordshire Foodbank, said having access to a van each week means the charity can maximise spend it allocates to food orders.
“Price watching is critical,” said Maria. “By purchasing items at the lowest rate, we’re able to support more individuals and families with nutritionally balanced emergency food packages.
“Transport has always been another barrier. Without a sufficient amount of space to load the food we order, we encounter additional time and cost expense for the charity and our volunteers.
“It’s why we’re so grateful to The M&M Group and its M&M Zero vans for supporting the collection and unloading processes for our weekly orders which help to move people in Witney and west Oxfordshire out of food poverty.”
The charity only works with those who are referred to its services by professionals such as health and social workers, GPs, schools, other support charities and Citizens Advice.
Foodbank clients receive a maximum of six food parcels in six months and can access financial advice to help tackle the root cause of why accessing a foodbank is necessary.
Maria added: “Foodbanks are misunderstood.
“Those who believe we provide people with their weekly food shop could not be further from the reality of our operation.
“We work with individuals, couples, working families, the elderly, young people and some who are homeless. There is no typical foodbank client and around a third of the people using foodbanks are working which illustrates the challenging situation a lot of people face.
“Our bolt-on services include linking our clients with advisors from Citizen’s Advice who are experts in helping people to maximise income and minimise debt because in most cases receiving free food packages is not a sustainable solution.
“It’s why we aim to limit the number of packages for our clients. Our driver is to move people out of food poverty, through managed support and expert advice where it is required.”
Founded in 2021, M&M Zero operates a fleet of customised electric vans powered by electricity and fitted with solar panels to collect waste items which can be recycled from people’s homes.
Matt Wright, Commercial Director at The M&M Group, said: “Our headquarters in West Oxfordshire is regarded by many as one of the UK’s most affluent areas.
“The fact Witney and West Oxfordshire Foodbank worked with more than 5,000 people in 2025 – including 2,200 children – demonstrates there is a food poverty crisis locally, which is something our team want to tackle.
“We’re proud to support the charity during a time where it has encountered rapid increases in demand for its services and hope this small gesture can make a big difference to those in our community.”
Further information about Witney and West Oxfordshire Foodbank is available online via www.witney.foodbank.org.uk.
Further information about M&M Zero can be found here:
