Find out how to get food bank vouchers with a referral from a food bank referral agency.
If you need a food bank voucher, you will need to contact a food bank referral agency.
The agency will take some details from you to complete the voucher application.
They will be able to offer some practical advice and enable the food bank to prepare the right amount of emergency food, for the right number of people.
Once you have your voucher, you can exchange this for three days of emergency food at your nearest food bank.
| Organisation/group name | Voucher requirements | Location | Contact number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autism Anglia | Yes - Autism Anglia | Food bank voucher issued | 01206 577678 |
| Brightlingsea Food Bank | Yes | Brightlingsea Parish Hall, Brightlingsea | 07970 480968 |
| CARA | Yes - existing CARA clients only | Food bank voucher issued to existing clients only | 01206 769795 |
| CBC Housing Options and CBH Emergency Tenancy Services | Yes | Offering phone support and vouchers can be arranged | 01206 282514 |
| CBC Sheltered Housing (Older Persons Services) | Yes - existing clients only | Food bank voucher issued to existing clients only | 01206 282701 |
| Citizens Advice Colchester | Yes | Phone and email support to anyone that needs advice or food bank vouchers | Call 0300 330 2104 or email advice.colchester@cabnet.org.uk |
| Colchester Gateway | Yes - existing clients only | Offering phone support and food bank vouchers | 07710 177050 |
| Eastlights Community Homes | Yes - existing clients only | Food bank voucher issued to existing clients only | 01206 244700 |
| Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service | Yes - supporting families with children | Offering phone support and food bank vouchers | 0300 247 0015 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday |
| Essex Integration | Yes | Offering phone support and food bank vouchers | 01206 861180 - option 2 |
| Essex Outreach Service (Peabody) | Yes | 0800 2888883 | |
| Estuary Housing | Yes - existing tenants only | Food bank voucher issued to existing clients only | 0300 304 5000 |
| Family Solutions (Assessment and Intervention Team, Family Support Team and Protection Team) | Yes | Offering phone support and food bank vouchers can be arranged | 0345 603 7627 |
| Financial Equality and Wellbeing Team - Colchester City Council | Yes | Get in touch with the team via our online contact form | Get in touch |
| GP Primary Choice Ltd | Yes - to access vouchers patients call their own GP surgery, who will then refer to them to the relevant Care Advisor | Yes - to access vouchers patients call their own GP surgery, who will then refer to them to the relevant Care Advisor | Patients own GP Surgery/Care Advisor |
| Hawthorn GP Surgery | Yes | St. Edmunds Centre, Tamarisk Way, Colchester CO4 3GW | 01206 517100 |
| Home Start | Yes | The Ark, Jack Andrews Dr, Highwoods, Colchester CO4 9WX | 01206 854625 |
| MIND | Yes - referral from Mental Health practitioners | The Constantine Centre, 272a Mersea Rd, Colchester CO2 8QZ | 01206 764600 |
| Next Chapter | Yes - Next Chapter clients only | Food bank voucher issued to existing clients only | 01206 500585 |
| NHS Specialist Mental Health Team | Yes - existing clients only | Food bank voucher issued to existing clients only | 01206 334100 |
| Open Door | Yes - Working in a reduced service, open Mon, Wed, Fri 12-1pm. Also providing takeaway lunches for those who need them. | Open Door at Colchester Baptist Church, Eld Lane, Colchester CO1 1LS | 07394 907998 |
| Open Road Colchester | Yes | Open Road, 5a Queen Street, Colchester CO1 2PG (Near Firstsite and The Curzon Cinema) | 01206 766096 |
| Refugee Action - Colchester | Yes - existing clients only | Food bank voucher issued to existing clients only | 01206 638454 |
| Sanctuary Supported Living | Yes | Queen Elizabeth Way, Colchester CO2 | 01206 762373 |
| St Luke's Church, Highwoods | Yes | Offering phone support and food bank vouchers can be arranged | 01206 572529 |
| Victim Support | Yes | Visit their website | |
| Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery | Yes - pupils and families of Willow Brook School and Nursery only | Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery, Barnardiston Road, Colchester CO4 0DT | 01206 864375 |
| Wivenhoe Congregational Church | Yes | Wivenhoe Congregational Church, 101 High Street, Wivenhoe CO7 9AB | 01206 826553 |
| YMCA | Yes - YMCA tenants only | Food bank voucher issued to existing clients only | 01206 579415 |
| Youth Enquiry Service (YES) | Yes | Offering phone support and food bank vouchers can be arranged | 01206 710771 |