Trussell Trust

The Trussell Trust, founded in 1997 by Paddy and Carol Henderson as one of the UK's leading anti-poverty charities, began supporting children in Bulgaria before launching the nation's first food bank in Salisbury in 2000. Rooted in Christian principles yet operating inclusively, its mission is to end the need for food banks UK-wide through a network of over 1,700 centres delivering emergency food parcels, practical support, and policy advocacy. Guided by values of compassion, dignity, and justice, it embeds lived poverty experiences in governance and strategy, distributing millions of parcels annually—over half a million to children—and pioneering research like the State of Hunger project.

It funds interventions tackling acute and structural food insecurity, prioritizing families, children, and individuals hit by insufficient income, benefit delays, or welfare changes. Supported activities include food parcels, signposting to services, capacity building, staff/volunteer training, core costs for food bank operations, emergency relief, and advocacy campaigns such as Essentials Guarantee and #5WeeksTooLong, focusing on immediate relief and systemic reform.

Eligible applicants are limited to existing network partners—UK-registered charities and community groups, typically grassroots or volunteer-led with incomes under £100,000 to £500,000, operating anywhere in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland). Unsolicited applications are not accepted; new organizations must join via formal affiliation. Quarterly trustee meetings (February, June, September, November) inform decisions, with no public deadlines or portals—support is communicated internally.

Typical grants range £5,000–£50,000 (most £8,000–£25,000) for food poverty projects only; it excludes general charity work, unrestricted funds, or non-poverty capital. Distinctive for its massive scale (two-thirds of UK emergency parcels), networked model, evidence-based campaigning, and cross-sector convening, Trussell stands out as a values-led authority driving hunger-ending transformation.