What can the council help with?

The council are able to help with a number of different situations:

-Needing essential furniture/white goods after leaving prison, care or temporary accommodation
-Needing essential furniture/white goods in a new home after fleeing domestic violence
-Needing essential furniture/white goods without which you would have to move into some form of institution
-Needing clothes, furniture or other items for yourself and/or your family following a disaster, crisis or emergency
-Need help to pay for gas and electricity in order to heat your home or cook for your family

Please note, cash payments are not made and items or vouchers will be provided for you. Items may be second hand but will be in good working condition.

If the council have already helped you 3 times in the past year, it is unlikely that your application will be successful.

How long will a decision take?

How to apply 

You can apply online here or by phoning the council on 01952 380400. 

You should select the option which most closely meets your situation. 

Food Banks

If you do not have enough food in your household to support you and your family you can access a food bank for a food parcel. These usually contain enough food to last 3 days. 

As food banks rely on donations from the public, there is no guarantee as to what you will receive and most of the items will be tins, jars, packets and longer life foods. You may be able to get some items like bread, vegetables or fruit if they are available.  

The largest Food Bank in Telford is organised by Telford Crisis Support, an independent organisation and registered charity.  

In 2021/22 they provided 120,897 meals to residents in Telford & Wrekin. In 2022/23 they provided 197,578 meals to residents in Telford & Wrekin.  

80% of referrals request help with toiletries and about 9% of referrals request help with baby items. 

Residents from every TF postcode in Telford & Wrekin were assisted and residents from ages 16-100 were assisted.  

The busiest month was January 2023 with 22,572 meals provided.  

Telford Crisis support provide emergency parcels which include food and toiletries and can also assist with clothing, school uniform and baby items.  

Food Parcels

To make an application for a food parcel call 01952 380400 or 01952 567174. 

Food parcels can be arranged for same day collection only at certain locations, but applications need to be made before 2pm. Food parcels will be available for next day collection if the application is submitted before 5pm. 

Please note, food parcels can only be collected Monday-Friday and are not available during the weekend. 

You can see a list of their collection points and times here. 

Newport Food Bank

Newport Food Bank works in partnership with Telford Crisis Support and supports residents of Newport and the surrounding villages.  

Applications need to be made by referral. This could be from Citizens Advice, your GP, church, nursery, school, housing association. You can also call Telford Crisis Support on 01952 586646 for a referral, or you can use the Contact Us page on their website here to make an enquiry. 

Collections are on a Friday between 9.30am-11.30am at:
The Royal Navy Club, Bellmans Yard, Newport, TF10 7AJ. 

This can be tricky to find – if you are on Newport High Street there is a wide alleyway between Number 45 gift shop and Nock Deighton estate agents. If you go up that alleyway, which can be accessed by vehicles, the Royal Navy Club is on your right-hand side about two-thirds of the way up. 

Other Food Banks

Dawley Food Bank
Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10.30am-12.30am located at Dawley Christian Centre on the High Street, TF4 2EX. Call 01952 505108.

Telford and Wrekin Interfaith Council
Can assist with emergency food parcels outside of normal working hours and are capable of catering for cultural and dietary needs. Monday-Friday after 5pm and all weekends and Bank Holidays. 
07895 395226/07545 023519 
hello@interfaithtelford.org 

Collection Points: 
Arleston Community Centre
St Giles Close
Arleston
TF1 2AB
Saturdays 9am-10.30am

Leegomery Community Centre 
Leegate Avenue 
Leegomery 
TF1 6NA 
Saturdays 9am-10.30am

Baby and Toddler Bank

For those in need a professional referral can be made to Telford Crisis Support’s Baby and Toddler Bank for baby and toddler products, clothes and related items. Unfortunately, you cannot self-refer. 

A professional referral can come from:

-GP, midwife or health visitor 
-Local authority healthcare professional 
-Social care professional 
-Educational professional 

Winter Coat Referral

During the colder months applications can be made for coats for school children. Currently these applications are closed but will reopen later in the year.  

Applications are by referral only and you should speak to your key worker or your school. 

The website can be found here. 

School Uniform Bank 

If you are struggling to meet the costs of buying new school uniforms for your child/ren you can request assistance from Telford Crisis Support and their School Uniform bank. Most of the uniforms are donated from parents of children who no longer need them. All uniforms provided are washed and cleaned after donation.  

You can apply year-round and do not need a professional referral, although there is no guarantee that there will be uniform for your child’s school and in your child’s size. 

You can apply here and click on ‘Request for Uniform’   

School Uniform Bank

If you are struggling to meet the costs of buying new school uniforms for your children you can request assistance from Telford Crisis Support and their School Uniform bank. Most of the uniforms are donated from parents of children who no longer need them. All uniforms provided are washed and cleaned after donation.  

You can apply year-round and do not need a professional referral, although there is no guarantee that there will be uniform for your child’s school and in your child’s size. 

You can apply here and click on ‘Request for Uniform’

Community Supermarkets

If you are not in crisis and in immediate need of help with food but are struggling to manage with the cost of the weekly shop, you may wish to consider using some of the community supermarkets in the Telford & Wrekin area: 

All Nations Community Grocery Store
A community supermarket with food (both fresh and ambient) donated by shops and supermarkets. There is an annual membership fee of £5. You can then shop up to twice a week for £4 per shop. The £4 allows you to get a certain number of items, and if you want to get more you can pay a top-up. Depending on availability, some items are free. Open Monday 9.30am-6pm, Tuesday-Friday 9.30am-4.30pm. Holyhead Road, Ketley, TF1 5DS opposite Farmfoods and Trio Furnishings.  

You can visit their website here and their Facebook page here. 

Telford Save It Discount Store
A discount supermarket with food (both fresh and ambient) donated by shops and supermarkets. Some items are free, depending on stock levels. Other items are priced in store. Open 7 days a week, Monday-Friday 9.30am-5pm, Saturday 9.30am-4pm Sunday 10am-4pm. 23 Bridge Road, Wellington, TF1 1ED – opposite Aldi.  

You can visit their Facebook page here. 

Newport Food Save and Share
A non-profit organisation offering food (both fresh and ambient) donated by shops and supermarkets every Monday between 11.30-12.30pm at the Royal British Legion in Newport (Audley Avenue, TF10 7DP). A £2 donation is requested for each person you are collecting food for I.e. a family of 4 would be £8.  

You can visit their Facebook page here. 

Taste Not Waste Run
Home delivered boxes of fresh food and dry/packaged plus a minimum of 5 frozen items for £11 per box (up to a maximum of 2 boxes) and £3.75 delivery within a 7-mile radius of TF3 4DR.  

You can visit their Facebook page here.