A FOODBANK in Basingstoke supporting hundreds of families could be forced to close if funding cannot be secured to cover its rent costs.

Spotlight UK currently runs a foodbank from Hart House on Priestly Road. 

It is now issuing an urgent plea to anyone who can help it secure funding to enable it to stay at the premises, otherwise, the charity fears it might have to close the food bank for good.

This would leave hundreds of families without the vital support offered by the foodbank.

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Michaela Riley, founder of Spotlight UK, said she fears the charity only has weeks to secure funding before the closure of the foodbank will be the only option.

She said: “It is just getting harder at the moment to get grant funding and fundraising and we have to pay the rent to have the building, a room where the foodbank is. We have been turned down for a couple of grants.

“If we don’t raise the funds, we will have to close the foodbank site down. With the cost of the food, the rent, and supplies because they are harder to come by. We get weekly supplies that go so quickly because our numbers are rising so rapidly and it is heartbreaking. We have elderly people who are living on the bread line and parents going without food so their kids can eat. We don’t want to have to turn people away but we are not going to be able to keep it going.”

The charity was previously based at the the Popley Spotlight Centre but left the former Chineham Park Primary School building when Hampshire County Council (HCC) wanted to use it to house a new school for children with autism.

It has been based at Hart House for nearly three years and currently supplys a seven-day food parcel for those in need. 

Michaela added: “We have to find the overhead costs from grants, and we just keep getting turned down.

“We are having to choose at the moment whether it's activities and being there to support the kids or keep the food bank going, which costs a lot of money."

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Michaela said she understands that Hart House needs the foodbank's rent.

She added: “It is not their fault and it is nothing bad against Hart House they have been amazing.”

Spotlight UK is holding a fundraising event on September 28 and has asked anyone who can help “change lives” to get in touch.

To help contact admin@spotlightuk.org.