Meet Hackney’s longest serving food bank volunteers

Marva Ledwidge and Nicola Hilliard have been volunteering at Hackney Foodbank since it launched 13 years ago. 

We took some time out to catch up with them and learn more about how the charity has evolved. 

For Marva, the idea of helping to run a food bank first came up when her daughter Hannah helped at a centre in Haringey. She could see the huge need in her community.  At that stage Nicola and a small team had just set up Hackney Foodbank, running out of a couple of shipping containers at St Matthias Church in Stoke Newington. 

Marva said: “We stored the food in Stoke Newington and gave it out from a centre in Hoxton - we supported a lot of people from the Job Centre.  There were a lot of single men and women then – not many families.  We were there for a couple of years before moving on to St Mary’s Church. 

“The food bank was run by an American called Liza who had great ideas – we used to hand out herbs and spices and recipe cards so people could cook meals with their parcels.” 

Nicola had worked as a librarian and, after retiring, volunteered at the night shelter before moving on to Hackney Foodbank. She added: "We probably saw around 20 people during a session. It was busy, but nothing like it is now.” 

Now two-thirds of the people Hackney Foodbank supports are families with children. On an average month today, the charity provides emergency food for 568 children. 

Nicola said: "It's become so much more professional. When you think we started with one church hall and two portacabins, compared to where Hackney Foodbank is now, it's incredible. 

“One of the biggest changes has been the caseworkers. I think that's a really good thing. They can help people with all sorts of other issues as well as providing food and hopefully stop people needing to come back.   

“The food bank has grown enormously, but what hasn't changed is how welcoming everyone is.” 

Since starting at Hackney Foodbank, Marva and Nicola have each devoted over 2,700 hours to volunteering, helping thousands of people in need.  Marva still volunteers on the Hackney Giving Van once a week and is a full-time carer to her husband. Her children Rebekah, Clive and Hannah have all volunteered for the food bank too. Nicola devotes countless hours to admin for the charity, answering emails and updating the signposting information.  

When the food bank started, Marva, who has five grandchildren, worked 12-hour shifts (often overnight) at the Royal Free Hospital as a paediatric gastroenterologist nurse and devoted her spare time to volunteering. In addition to the food bank, she ran coffee mornings and breakfast clubs at local hostels. 

Asked what motivates her to help others, she said: “I had one sister and we lost our mum when I was a teenager. Dad would help lots of people and going back generations our family helped people.  At the food bank I’ve helped teach people how to cook, I’ve helped them sort their finances and get work, I’ve even taken visitors to the supermarket to teach them how to shop and cook on a budget.” 

Nicola has especially enjoyed getting to know visitors. She added: "I loved talking to visitors. I think that's probably my biggest skill. Most people were lovely, and you had some wonderful conversations. 

“You learned not to take the difficult days personally because people were dealing with so much in their own lives." 

Marva added: “The need is definitely higher than it was 13 years ago.  Most of the people we used to support were out of work. Now we see people who are working and still can’t afford the bills and to feed their family.”