Welcome, YPI teams — thanks for choosing to champion Inverclyde Foodbank.

Use this pack to build a clear, evidence-based pitch for the £3,000 grant.

1) The Fast Facts (stats for your presentation)

📊 Judges love local data. Use the facts below (and update the placeholders if your teacher asks for the latest numbers).

• Who we are: We’re the emergency food safety net for Inverclyde — helping ensure no one in our community has to go hungry.

• People supported last year (Inverclyde): 6429

• Children supported: Around 1 in 3 emergency food parcels we distribute go to children under 16.

• Why people are referred:

  1. Rising cost of living (energy bills and food prices)

  2. Unexpected crises (illness, job loss, relationship breakdown)

  3. Delays or gaps in benefits/wages

2) How the Foodbank Works (the journey)

🧭 A great pitch explains the process clearly.

1. Donations come in from churches, schools, supermarkets, and the public

2. Sorting & date-checking by the warehouse team

3. Balanced parcels are planned using nutrition guidelines provided by Trussell

4. Parcels are packed (typically a 3-day supply of non‑perishable breakfast, lunch, and dinner)

5. Dignified distribution via referral partners to individuals and families

More than food: we offer a warm welcome and can connect people to further support (e.g., debt advice, employability support) to help break the cycle of crisis.

3) The Human Impact (the “heart” of your pitch)

💬 Data wins minds — stories win hearts. You can use this anonymised quote or one of the attached downloads.

“I never thought I’d have to use a food bank. I worked all my life, but after a sudden medical issue, I couldn’t work and the bills piled up instantly. Walking through the door was terrifying, but the team didn’t judge me. They listened to me, and gave me enough food to feed my kids for the week. They didn’t just save my budget; they saved my dignity.”

4) If we win — exactly what the £3,000 would do

🎯Judges mark down vague answers like “it will go into the general pot”. Be specific.

If your team wins the £3,000, the money would be allocated to our “Fill the Gaps” Emergency Fund.

The problem: donations are generous, but we often run short of essentials (e.g., tinned meats/meals, UHT milk) that keep parcels balanced.

The solution: the grant allows us to buy the missing essentials in bulk when donations dip — so no family receives an incomplete parcel during winter.

Direct impact (estimate): £3,000 can help supplement roughly [Add amount, using the Foodbank Impact Calculator] family food parcels (depending on prices and what’s needed most at the time).

5) How to get an A* (pitch tips)

⭐ Use these to make your presentation stand out.

• Come visit us: arrange a short visit to see the warehouse and take real photos/videos for your pitch.

• Interactive intro idea: hold up a single tin of food and ask the judges how far they think it goes — then compare that with the reality of food poverty locally.

• Use your voice: be passionate — you’re presenting on behalf of people in your community.