Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Social Justice

A foodbank is changing its name to stop people being put off by 'real stigma'

Moray Foodbank in Elgin will become Moray Food Plus on Monday in a bid to attract more people living on the breadline

A foodbank is changing its name to rid itself of the “real stigma” that is putting off vulnerable users.

Moray Foodbank in Elgin, Scotland, will be rebranding as Moray Food Plus from Monday June 3 in a bid to shed the negative connotations that have prevented struggling families from receiving help, said officials.

The move also reflects the wider offering at the centre, with lunch clubs to reduce social isolation in the area as well as holiday clubs to eat into holiday hunger suffered during school breaks.

“Many people are too embarrassed to come to the foodbank for help and there can be a real stigma around using our service,” said Moray Foodbank’s project manager Mairi McCallum. “We feel that the change away from Moray Foodbank to Moray Food Plus removes the negative connotations around crisis food support and we hope will encourage more people to access the help they need.”

The foodbank also helps the local community to tackle food waste, saving 17 tonnes of food from the bin last year to be redistributed locally.

Moray Foodbank chair Kathy Ross added. “During the past two years services at Moray Food Plus have grown and we no longer provide just emergency food provision.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

“We feel the change of name is more reflective of what we do and highlights the good work being carried out in the community.”

The organisation split from the national foodbank charity The Trussell Trust to become independent in February and is now hoping to act as a blueprint for other food banks showing how to go beyond merely giving out emergency food parcels.

Food poverty is also on the menu in this week’s Big Issue magazine, available now from vendors and The Big Issue Shop.

We look at the lessons learned from last week’s human rights poverty reports to explore how Brits can fight for a right to food that goes beyond simply being fed and instead asks for a sustainable food system.

We also dig in to the debate on chlorinated chicken, explore the UK’s fried chicken fascination and explore a revealing look at what homeless people eat.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

READER-SUPPORTED SINCE 1991

Reader-supported journalism that doesn’t just report problems, it helps solve them.

Recommended for you

View all
More than £4bn in benefits will go unclaimed in London this year: 'Too many people miss out'
Benefits

More than £4bn in benefits will go unclaimed in London this year: 'Too many people miss out'

The UK is not doing well. Here's how the Marmot Principles could help Starmer turn things around
Marmot Places

The UK is not doing well. Here's how the Marmot Principles could help Starmer turn things around

Here's how projects driven by the eight Marmot principles are transforming Britain
Marmot thinking

Here's how projects driven by the eight Marmot principles are transforming Britain

Get rich and die trying: Typical Brit must save entire lifetime of earnings to become wealthy
Woman putting money in piggy bank/ how make money
Wealth

Get rich and die trying: Typical Brit must save entire lifetime of earnings to become wealthy

Reader-supported journalism that doesn’t just report problems, it helps solve them.

Every day, Big Issue digs deeper – speaking up for those society overlooks. Will you help us keep doing this work?