Food bank caseworkers have “transformative” impact
Casework support at Hackney Foodbank has a “substantial economic impact” on people experiencing hardship, according to an independent report.
The report, carried out by The Evaluator, concluded that caseworkers supporting visitors to Hackney Foodbank help to restore stability and dignity. It states: “The casework service offers something not typically found in many services; time, trust and steady guidance through complexity. Its impact is felt across emotional, practical and financial outcomes - and in the relief expressed by visitors who say, simply, that they could not have managed without it.
“The economic impact of helping visitors is estimated at over £1million locally per year. In fact, 82% of the visitors helped were entitled to more benefits.
“To many, the overall impact was transformative.”
Food bank caseworkers provide one-to-one support for people facing complex and often long-term challenges, including debt, benefit issues, insecure housing, disability, trauma and poor mental health. A small, specialist team ‘walk alongside’ visitors, through applications, appeals, advocacy, essential costs and crisis moments.
In 2025 Hackney Foodbank provided the equivalent of more than 315,800 meals for people experiencing hardship, a 17.5% increase on the previous year. Their caseworkers helped more than 450 people, maximizing their income by a combined £708,000.
Pat Fitzsimons, CEO of Hackney Foodbank, added: “For the past couple of years we’ve been growing our caseworker service – we’re determined not to be a sticking plaster but to help people out of poverty and on to better situations, so they no longer need emergency food. Ultimately, our aim is to help people and to reduce the need for food banks.
“The impact for our visitors can be life changing. Our team holds people, rather than simply signposting them on, and caseworkers walk beside them through benefits claims and appeals, housing and homeless issues and more.”
Experts at The Evaluator carried out in-person interviews with food bank visitors, spoke with partner agencies such as Hackney Council and analysed extensive data to measure the impact of the caseworkers.
Among them was Beth, who was struggling with debt, unresolved trauma and poor mental health when she came to the food bank. Describing her first meeting with caseworker Lara, she said: “From that moment she was like my angel. I just went and burst into tears. She said ‘okay, we’re going to do this step by step, we’re going to help you.’ And that’s what’s been happening ever since.
“She helped me write letters and taught me how to do follow ups, she helped me get referred to a lawyer for free help from a landlord-care case, she got me oil-filled radiators, a duvet, an oven and a fridge.
“It’s like having armour – you don’t feel like you’re going it alone.”
Another visitor, Anna, a single mother with long term health conditions and severe anxiety, turned to Hackney Foodbank for emergency food. She said: “Originally it was just food – someone gave me a number and it happened to be a caseworker that picked up the phone – she’s helped me ever since.
“She should be able to close my case like everyone ese does, but she keeps me on. That’s my safety net. It stops me getting worse because I know there’s somebody there. This company actually cares.”
Hackney Foodbank has four caseworkers working full and part-time.
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