Schools' Harvest Heroes
Needed items
Food Donation Days
Impact Report
London Marathon
Newsletter
Luton Foodbank Newsletter: September 2026
Hello to all our wonderful supporters!
Autumn is well and truly here, and it's a big month for us!
Harvest is underway, our Essential Skills Workshops are back, and we're just weeks away from launching something we're really proud of: the Luton Food Club.
Contents
National Landscape & Local Reality: important changes
Two changes to be aware of this autumn if you or someone you know is claiming benefits:
Universal Credit’s new “two-tier” health element
Since 6 April 2026, the extra Universal Credit payment for people with a severely limiting health condition or disability (the LCWRA element) now depends on when you claim it, not just your condition. People who were already receiving it kept the higher rate (£429.80/month). Anyone newly awarded it since 6 April 2026 gets a much lower rate (£217.26/month), and this new rate is frozen until at least 2029/30. If you’re thinking about making a new claim, or know someone who is, it’s worth getting advice first so there are no surprises — our Information & Signposting Advisor is here to help.
Two-child limit removed
On a more positive note, since April 2026 families with three or more children can now claim the Universal Credit child element for all of their children, not just the first two — this could mean extra money each month for larger families who previously missed out. If you weren’t eligible before because of this rule, it’s worth checking again.
What This Means for Luton
As the nights draw in and energy bills start to climb again, we know this is a tough stretch for a lot of local families — and changes like these can be hard to keep on top of. Thank you for continuing to stand with us through it, and please do reach out if you need help understanding what any of this means for you.
September at a Glance: Our Impact
Here’s a snapshot of our reach this month:
- 1,350 food parcels distributed
- 1,040 adults supported
- 310 children supported
Visit from the High Sheriff
On 14 September, we were delighted to welcome the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire to our warehouse, for a tour of our operations and a chance to see first-hand the scale of support we provide to families across Luton.
“A big thank you to all the volunteers and staff for everything you do. And if you are able to volunteer or support Luton FoodBank, I know your help would be greatly appreciated.” – High Sheriff, 16 September 2026
Harvest 2026: It’s Underway!
Harvest season is officially here!
Running from Monday 21 September to Friday 16 October, schools and churches across Luton are coming together to collect essential items on our behalf.
Last year, 43 schools and 18 churches took part, donating over 25,000 items between them — we can’t wait to see what this year brings.
If your school, church or community group would still like to get involved, there’s still time — get in touch and we’ll get you set up. Read more
As the campaign opened, these schools had already signed up:
Beech Hill Primary School
Cockernhoe Primary School
Crawley Green Infant School
Dallow Primary School
Denbigh Primary School
Downside Primary School
Farley Junior School
Ferrars Junior School
Leagrave Primary School
Putteridge Primary School
Richmond Hill Primary Academy
Stopsley Primary School
Sundon Lower School
Warden Hill Infant School
Warden Hill Junior School
Warden Hill Primary School WI
Wenlock Junior School
Whipperley Infant Academy
Wigmore Primary School
William Austin Junior School
Thank you all for your enthusiastic support.
Harvest season is officially here!
Running from Monday 21 September to Friday 16 October, schools and churches across Luton are coming together to collect essential items on our behalf.
Last year, 43 schools and 18 churches took part, donating over 25,000 items between them — we can’t wait to see what this year brings.
If your school, church or community group would still like to get involved, there’s still time — get in touch and we’ll get you set up. Read more
As the campaign opened, these schools had already signed up:
Beech Hill Primary School
Cockernhoe Primary School
Crawley Green Infant School
Dallow Primary School
Denbigh Primary School
Downside Primary School
Farley Junior School
Ferrars Junior School
Leagrave Primary School
Putteridge Primary School
Richmond Hill Primary Academy
Stopsley Primary School
Sundon Lower School
Warden Hill Infant School
Warden Hill Junior School
Warden Hill Primary School WI
Wenlock Junior School
Whipperley Infant Academy
Wigmore Primary School
William Austin Junior School
Thank you all for your enthusiastic support.
Essential Skills Workshops Are Back
We’re delighted that our Essential Skills Workshops have restarted this month, running across three of our regular sites — Foxdell Junior School, Beech Hill Primary School, and Maidenhall Primary School.
These free sessions cover everything from budgeting and smart shopping to cooking on a budget and staying warm through winter, and they’re open to anyone in the community who’d find them useful.
To sign up, email [email protected].
Coming Soon: Luton Food Club
We’re just weeks away from launching Luton Food Club — a new way for us to support local families that goes beyond a single food parcel.
Members will get six visits alongside six Essential Skills sessions. An advisor will be on hand each time, to help sort out benefits or find work. It’s all aimed at helping people build real independence.
Keep an eye out for more details as our launch date of 22 October approaches.
London Marathon 2027: Support Our Runners
Our two amazing runners, Helen and Kevin, are deep into training for next year’s TCS London Marathon, and they’d love your support!
Every donation helps us keep supporting families across Luton.
Case Study: David
David’s determination paid off: he secured a job at a local barber shop. Food support meant he could focus on building his career rather than worrying about his next meal.
He’s told us he expects his most recent parcel to be his last, as he moves into financial stability with both his wages and Universal Credit coming in.
Food Donation Days
Our volunteers will be accepting donations our next food-collection event:
Bookmark our Food Donation Day list, for easy future reference
Check our list of needed items.
Always be up to date with our latest needs by getting the BankTheFood mobile app.
Thank you, Luton, for your endless generosity. Let’s keep working together to support our neighbours this autumn!
Other ways you can help
Make a Donation — Help fund essential food parcels for individuals and families in crisis. Donate here.
Volunteer — Join our amazing team of volunteers, and make a real difference in your community. Volunteer here.
Boost your Business while Giving Back — Partner with us to create lasting impact through sponsorship or corporate support. Learn more.
Together, we can help ensure that no one in Luton goes hungry.
Thank you for standing with us in the fight against food poverty.
Every act of kindness brings us closer to a hunger-free Luton.
Thank You
Thank you for standing with us in the fight against food poverty. Every act of kindness brings us closer to a hunger-free Luton.