World

Redditch Boy’s £40 Grocery Drive Turns Into Six‑Site Food Bank Serving 5,000 People Annually

By TOI World Desk

At nine, Isaac Winfield noticed people in Redditch struggling to buy food and decided to act. In November 2020 he used his pocket money to purchase £40 of groceries and set up a pop‑up food bank on his family’s driveway. Six years later, Friends of Isaac’s Food Bank has expanded to six sites, a warehouse, two vans and a registered community interest company that supports about 5,000 people each year, according to Sounddelivery Media and the charity’s website.

The original shed on the driveway was simple: Isaac stocked it with groceries he bought himself and invited anyone who needed food to take what they needed. No referral forms, vouchers or questions were required. That low‑friction model remains central to the organisation today, which encourages people to take food if they need it and to give back if they can.

The six sites—Isaac’s Place on Throckmorton Road, Samuel’s Place in Batchley, Russell’s Retreat at Abbeydale Social Club, Frank’s Shed on the Moons Moat North Industrial Estate and Willow Tree in Church Hill—serve around 300 families each week. The sheds are open every day of the year, including weekends and holidays. The charity relies on 10 to 15 volunteers and donations of food, toiletries, baby items and money.

Donations accepted include jars, breakfast items, toiletries, cleaning products, pet food, period products and baby items. Goods can be donated directly at any shed or money can be contributed via the organisation’s GoFundMe page or Amazon wishlist. Supporters include supermarkets, local businesses, Redditch College, the YMCA and other community organisations.

Isaac’s mother, Claire Simmons, who helps run the organisation, says the most meaningful moments are often small, such as a stranger recognising Isaac in a supermarket and giving him a tearful hug. She notes that people who once came for help later return to donate or volunteer, and that a child inspired by Isaac spent birthday money buying food for others.

The food bank has also challenged assumptions about what young people, especially disabled children, can achieve. Simmons says society often limits what a person can do based on age, circumstances or disability, but Isaac has disproved those limits by building a practical, lasting service.

Friends of Isaac’s Food Bank continues to operate on the principle that no one should go hungry in Redditch, a message that has become both a service and a statement about inclusion. The growth from a £40 driveway stall to six sites serving thousands each year reflects the collective effort of volunteers, donors and the community.