As a member of the National Fans Supporting Foodbanks network, we’re one of a number of fan-led independent supporter groups involved in foodbank collections for the local community.
The National Fans Supporting Foodbanks Network
In London, Chelsea fans hold daytime matchday collections, and Millwall have their own storage container base at the New Den for matchday donations. Fulham, Charlton and QPR have had Christmas-time collections in the past.
Further afield, Liverpool’s Fans Supporting Foodbanks – going for nine years – have a permanent storage container next to the Kenny Dalglish stand, and Everton have the Fans Supporting Foodbanks van next to the fan zone at every game.
Man City have a gazebo on site for daytime games, and Manchester United have a collection point on Sir Matt Busby Way close to the Old Trafford stadium outside the MU Supporters Trust building, which they own.
Other active fan groups include Southampton, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Ipswich Town and Southend United. The National FSF is also active at many Scottish clubs too.
A Unique Model of Success in East London
What seems to set us apart is that whilst some clubs collect around a tonne of food in matchday donations, for a 60,000+ home attendance, we might not receive even one tin of beans.
However, what we receive in cash donations at our three collection sites by the Aquatics Centre, Hackney Wick Station and the Supporters Club allows us to buy almost half a tonne of food at every home game.
And at the moment, we are able to deliver a £2,000 pallet into the community every single week, with the support of the West Ham United fan family.
Club Support and Raising Exposure
The Club provides us with button badges to hand out to supporters and now features a link on our activities and QR code at the Stadium Store and Café, and of course provided us with our own gazebo last year to boost matchday exposure.
Alongside this we receive regular online donations through our JustGiving page, and occasional donations via the QR code.
Branded Clothing and How to Help
Two years ago we began offering our own branded clothing, with all proceeds going back into the pot for more food purchases.
We work with Apparel Studio in Stockport, who supply clothing to Ipswich Town, Forest Green Rovers, and a number of professional clubs in Scotland, Germany and Austria. They provide us with top quality claret hoodies (£25) and t-shirts (£15) in a range of sizes, and beanies in claret, dark and light blue (£10). We’re also looking at baseball caps for the future.
We have these available for sale on a matchday at the gazebo. Items are also available to send out via an email to us at ironsfoodbank@gmail.com with postage at cost. And if you come across a parked car with one of these signs in the window, it’s us at work.
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