Sheppey Support Bus was an idea born out of the need for affordable, accessible food as part of holistic support for people on the Isle of Sheppey. 

Food bank usage surged during the Covid-19 pandemic, with millions facing furlough, job loss or other disruption to their lives and incomes. Sadly, the reality is that in the UK, food banks currently remain a very necessary and important part of local communities. For many people, however, the transition then from using a food bank to being able to purchase their own food is a difficult one, and so Sheppey Support Bus seeks to act as a bridge between the two.

With membership of the Sheppey Support Bus scheme, which entails a subsidised financial contribution, people on the Isle of Sheppey will be able to select a range of groceries for themselves and their families. We hope that in this way, both dignity and affordability are preserved, as people contribute to the cost of their food but access it more easily than in a supermarket. 

We are also excited that the Sheppey Support Bus project includes holistic support for people, with the top deck of our bus acting as a meeting space for anyone to receive advice, care and a listening ear. Our partner organisations will be providing specific services such as debt counselling and budgeting support, which will be free to access.

With your donations, we hope that this bus will become a place of support, community and care for people as we commit to reducing food poverty on the Isle of Sheppey.