Nina Malyon, Walton & Hersham Foodbank Manager

Walton & Hersham Foodbank is formally part of Walton Charity.

Building on our long history of tackling food poverty in our local area, we are joining forces with Walton & Hersham Foodbank to provide emergency food for local people in crisis, and are pleased to welcome them into the Walton Charity family.

Through our latest project, The Bridge, we are providing food and other support to families across Elmbridge who are struggling with the rising cost of living.

Find out more about the work of the foodbank, including:

See what our foodbank users say about Walton & Hersham foodbank

Walton & Hersham Foodbank is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.

Other foodbanks in Elmbridge include East Elmbridge, Cobham area and Runnymede.

The history of the foodbank

The foodbank began in 2013, when a small group of dedicated church volunteers at St Johns, Walton came together to support a local family in crisis. With a few donated items stored in a small cupboard in the church, they began meeting an immediate need in their community.

However, it soon became clear that the need extended far beyond a single family. As word spread, both the collection and demand for food grew. In response, the church partnered with St Peters church, Hersham and brought the initiative under the Parochial Church Council (PCC). Recognising the increasing complexity of food storage and distribution, and the growing number of people seeking support, the team joined Trussell Trust (now known simply as Trussell) to formalise their operations and comply with relevant regulations.

Initially, the foodbank operated with around 30 volunteers, offering four distribution sessions in two churches each week and supporting 20–30 people. Over time, demand has grown significantly. Today, we hold sessions in three churches plus the Bridge, our family support hub in Walton town centre and have more than 60 volunteers and regularly assist over 100 people every week.

In 2022, in response to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, a strategic decision was made to transfer the foodbank from St Peters PCC to Walton Charity a larger, more resource-equipped charity. This transition has allowed us to better meet the increasing demand and ensure the foodbank’s long-term sustainability and impact.