Lottery funding supports Portsmouth Food Bank

Descriptor: First we see a map graphic, which zooms in to show Portsmouth. We then see a shot of boats on the sea, before meeting Louise Minchin.

Louise Minchin: Today I’m here in Portsmouth, to see the valuable work done by the Portsmouth Food Bank.

Descriptor: As we hear Louise Minchin speak, we see members of the Portsmouth Food Bank preparing food packages and working in the office, before once again seeing Louise.

Louise Minchin: They provide a minimum of three days emergency food and support for people experiencing crisis in the local area.

Descriptor: As Louise Minchin narrates, we now see members of the Portsmouth Food Bank preparing food packages and we see a close-up shot of a food bank voucher.

Louise Minchin: They have applied for a National Lottery grant, so they can meet the increasing demands in the community.

Descriptor: We now see exterior shots of a building with a sign which reads, “King’s Church,” before meeting Martin Mant, the Project Manager for Portsmouth Food Bank. As Martin speaks, we see shots of their stock of food, together with shots of staff stacking food, before going back to Martin, as he handles canned goods on a table in front of him.

Martin Mant: Portsmouth Food Bank has been going for about three and a half years. Our mandate is to provide three days of nutritionally balanced food, at the point of need and without prejudice. We get given donations by local organisations and churches. We take the donation in and we check for the dates, and then we take it down to the storeroom.

Descriptor: We now see Louise and a member of staff from the Portsmouth Food Bank going through the order forms and making up individual food packages.

Louise Minchin: Each food parcel is tailored to the individual or family in need, and is discretely packed into supermarket shopping bags.

Descriptor: Once again, we meet Martin Mant. As he speaks, we see members of staff putting food packages together, before seeing a shot of two boys walking on the street, who stop to speak to Martin. We then see shots of the two boys exiting a store, and giving Martin one item from their bags.

Martin Mant: We’ve reached the stage now where we’ve run out of food. In order to get through today’s session, not only is there this donation, but also I had to go to the supermarket. We ask customers to buy one extra item and donate it to us on the way out. One extra item in their bag means that they don’t really notice it, though to us it makes a huge difference.

Descriptor: We now meet Paul, who received food packages from the Portsmouth Food Bank, and is being interviewed by Louise Minchin.

Louise Minchin: If you didn’t have this food for the weekend, what would you have done about it? What would have done about eating?

Paul: I don’t know, I would have had to beg, steal or borrow. It would cause me severe difficulties. So I, you know, it’s quite remarkable that I found it. [He begins to cry.]

Louise Minchin: Oh, amazing, oh that’s amazing. And you, will you come back again, or do you think this is going to be a one-off for you?

Paul: No, it’s not a one-off.

Louise Minchin: It’s not a one-off?

Paul: No, not at all.

Descriptor: We now meet Steve Gomesz, who is a debt advisor at Portsmouth Food Bank.

Steve Gomesz: You see people coming in and you can see they’re not eating well, and they’re not eating at all in some cases. And to see poverty in, in Britain, ah, in the twenty first century, it’s, it’s, it’s a shocking thing to see.

Descriptor: We now see members of staff and clients of the Portsmouth Food Bank chatting together at tables, before being interrupted by Louise Minchin, who unrolls an oversized cheque from the National Lottery.

Louise Minchin: Um, I’m just going to interrupt you all for a minute, if that’s alright. I just want to say, really, thank you so much for showing me, um, around the project today, it’s been amazing looking at your work and what a difference you make to people. And I’m here on behalf of the National Lottery, and I have something here for you. Seventy seven thousand, seven hundred and eighty seven pounds, on behalf of the Big Lottery Fund for you.

Descriptor: We now see shots of the staff and clients of Portsmouth Food Bank reacting to the news of the National Lottery grant with smiles, laughter and applause, before we meet Michael Mant for the final time.

Michael Mant: If it wasn’t for the Lottery being generous, through the donations of the public, we wouldn’t be able to do what we’re doing. I want to say thank you for giving us this money.

Descriptor: We now see a shot of Paul picking up his shopping bags full of food, before meeting Steve Gomesz once again.

Steve Gomesz: Having that money is totally transforming, it’s the best thing that’s happened really for us.

Descriptor: Lastly we see shots of members of Portsmouth Food Bank and Louise smiling and laughing.