Derby charity makes urgent £15,000 plea for support this summer after record number of new people ask for help
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 28 July 2025
UPDATED: 29 July 2025
Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance are issuing an emergency appeal as they expect to run out of food by Friday.
Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance, based in Derby city centre is appealing to the public, businesses, and community partners to support its Summer Food Drive, which runs until Monday, September 1.
The charity predicts that one in three children will go hungry over the summer school holidays.
Paul Brookhouse, manager of the Derby charity, is making an urgent appeal for support and says the charity is running low on food.
Paul said,
“As of today, we’re facing a serious challenge: we expect to run out of food by Friday 25th July. We are running desperately low, and things are getting serious. We simply don’t have the funds to keep spending £8,000 to £10,000 a month on food to fill our shelves.
“We urgently need help. If you can support us by donating food, please get in touch. It makes me very miserable to think that in 2025, people are going hungry.”
Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance, which coordinates emergency food provision across the city, needs £15,000 to keep food supplies flowing through to September.
The charity says food bills and energy prices are rising and families are finding it harder than ever to cope.
In 2024, DF4TA spent £110,000 on additional food to make sure it met demand over the school summer holidays. But with supply slowing down and demand continuing to increase, the charity says food stocks are depleting.
Paul said:
“We are enormously grateful for the support we receive from local people, schools and businesses – but we are struggling again.”
For the last year, Paul and his team have been working hard to transform the way people are supported, through the introduction of community food hubs and pantries.
Paul said:
“Right now, in the short term, we must meet the immediate needs of our local families – and this means appealing for more food. It disappoints me when we have to keep making urgent appeals for help, but what can we do?
“People will be going hungry if DF4TA does not step in and support the huge number of people who are calling us every day.”
Supporters can give regularly through its Squid Army campaign, and businesses are invited to join the DF4TA 100 Club by donating £100 per month.
Food can be donated at three drop-off points: the Derbion (outside Sainsbury’s in Derby), Asda in Sinfin and Morrisons in Chaddesden.
This is what’s needed:
• Tinned meat (hot and cold) and tuna
• Tinned fruit and vegetables
• UHT milk and long-life juice
• Tea and coffee sachets
• Pasta, rice, cereal (500g or less), toiletries, biscuits
If you can help DF4TA, through donations, e-mail info@df4ta.com or call 01332 227730.
