Posted on: 27th April 2026

Most foodbanks in the city are run by churches and Christian organisations in their premises.

Leeds City Mission is one of them.

Staff at the Leeds City Mission Hub in Mistress Lane, Armley have recently been adding up its statistics as they prepare their annual report for last year.  They have seen donations to their Pantry Project rocket in 2025 as they have tried to cope with the demand from the general public.  Many of the visitors to their Compassion Centre at the Hub are struggling on limited budgets and an increase in the cost of living.

Between January and December last year a total of 279 food parcels were given to people in need.  Over 1800 packets and tins of food were donated by churches, philanthropic individuals, supermarkets and businesses to the Pantry Project.  Hundreds of other items were added, financed by financial donations and grants.  95 different families and individuals in need received these food parcels consisting of tins, packets, hygiene and other items.

During the course of the year the City Mission has also introduced a “Food Table” as part of the Pantry Project.  In 2025 Leeds City Mission received a staggering 1,300 large supermarket trays of food donated by High Street supermarkets.  These trays consisted of surplus short life food such as bread, confectionery and vegetables.  Many visitors were able to visit and receive these vital food supplies to eke out their family budgets

Volunteers at the Leeds City Mission Hub have given over 400 hours to collect, sort, display and pack the food.  Food from supermarkets has been collected on a daily basis and within hours it is usually snapped up by desperate visitors to the City Mission.

Pantry Project manager Sinclair Martin said that many visitors to the foodbank were either on fixed incomes, benefits, unemployed or finding it hard to get paid employment.  Others were in jobs with zero hours contracts or low pay.  Rising prices and pressure on family budgets were key factors explaining the significant rise in demand. 

Leeds City Misson Coordinator Andy Dalton observed that donations of tins and packets of food had increased by 28% compared to the previous year.  Staff and volunteers had been astounded by the growing numbers finding their way to their Compassion Centre near Armley Library to request and receive help.

The City Mission also assisted small, struggling churches in Leeds by making grants of food to them from the abundant supplies they have received.  This has enabled church leaders to help members of their congregation and local people near their churches who are struggling with life.

He said: “All this is about helping people and churches so that families have enough food on the table in these increasingly challenging times.  It is all offered for free in the name of Jesus.  Leeds City Misson offers a range of services – in addition to Pantry Project it offers a Welcome Space for the isolated, volunteer opportunities for those trying to reconnect with mainstream living, a clothing bank, a free shower facility for those living on the streets, prison and care home chaplaincy as well as other projects”

The Pantry Project at Leeds City Mission Hub is open Monday to Friday between 10am and 3pm.  Telephone 0113 345 3118.

Leeds City Mission is a multi-church agency and is one of the oldest charities in the city being in continuous existence since 1837.  It works with marginalised people, those struggling with life and brings support to small and struggling churches. The City Mission Hub premises are in Mistress Lane (end of Town Street) LS12 2LJ and are diagonally opposite Armley Library.

Accompanying photographs show pictures of the Leeds City Mission Coordinator Andy Dalton and volunteer Reka Hermann with some of the trays of food donated by supermarkets at the Food Table outside the City Mission Hub in Mistress Lane, Armley.