About Finchley Foodbank

Finchley Foodbank was founded in 2013 to support people in need in the London Borough of Barnet.

We are based at St Mary's Parish Church in East Finchley N2.

Through fundraising and donations we are able to source and stock the food and products we need to provide three days of emergency food for people living in financial hardship. We open our doors to run our food bank sessions twice a week in the hall behind St Mary's Parish Church in East Finchley.

Our aim is the relief of financial hardship among people in Barnet including by

  • providing emergency food, essential toiletries, and household items to  individuals and families in need  

  • signposting our clients to relevant information and other advisory services that can help address the causes of poverty

To use Finchley Foodbank, people must live in Barnet. We do not require a voucher or a referral – new clients can register with us on their first visit.  

What our clients think of us

In February 2024 we surveyed our volunteers and our clients to find out more about attitudes to the Foodbank, and how we could improve services. A big thank you to everyone who took part in and helped with the survey.

In total 152 people completed the survey and the report attached represents their views.

“All volunteers are extremely polite, nice and professional every time I come to the foodbank. I wouldn’t ask for better staff (volunteers). I am extremely happy.”

“Excellent staff, really helpful, really good.”

“They are polite, respectful, helpful and not judgmental.”

View or Download the Survey Results

A note from the Chair of our Trustees, Paul Woodward 

At Finchley Foodbank, our job is to provide emergency food to those in need in the London Borough of Barnet. 

It comes as a surprise to many that there is a need for a food bank in our area which is perceived as being generally prosperous. But the reality is that, over the eleven years that we have been operating, we have experienced a steadily increasing need for our services. 

We support around 625 people per week thanks to the hard work and dedication of our wonderful volunteers, management group and trustees, and the support of our donors and funders. Their commitment means that we can provide essential items for people in need in Barnet. Currently, the number of individuals and families who need us continues to rise. 

We are an independent charity and respect and welcome all those who visit Finchley Foodbank. We are proud of our friendly and hospitable service. 

Of course, we look forward to a day when we are no longer needed. But in the meantime, we continue to offer our services. We are grateful to St Mary's RC Church, the local community, grant makers, charities, local businesses and other local religious organisations for the many ways in which they support us and make what we do possible.

On this website you will find information if you wish to Support Us, Volunteer with Us or Get help.

Thank you
Paul Woodward
Chair, Finchley Foodbank
2026

WHO WE ARE

    

WHO WE ARE     

Finchley Foodbank Trustees

Trustees are responsible for overseeing the work, management and administration of the Foodbank on behalf of its beneficiaries.

  • Paul Woodward

    CHAIR OF TRUSTEES

    I have been a volunteer with Finchley Foodbank since 2020 and took over as Chair of the Trustees at the end of 2024. I spent 30 years of my career as a journalist, editor, and business consultant working overseas, mainly in Hong Kong and latterly in Paris. So, since stepping down from full time employment and returning to London, I’ve been keen to get more involved in the local community. By being able to engage both with other volunteers and the Foodbank’s clients, FFB has proven a great way of doing this.

  • Helen Doran

    TREASURER

    I joined Finchley Foodbank as Treasurer in September 2021, using my expertise to help ensure its financial stability and sustainability. I am a qualified accountant with a background in the financial sector. Before becoming self-employed, I worked as a senior fund accountant at Columbia Threadneedle Investments and Schroders plc.

  • Vicky Kydoniefs

    TRUSTEE

    I help with fundraising and other governance matters. I have worked in financial services for over 37 years focused on institutional clients and global new business development. I have also volunteered at Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership, helping teenagers with university and job applications and mentored colleagues at the 30% Club, a global campaign to increase gender diversity at Board and senior management levels. 

  • Dipo Oyewole

    TRUSTEE

    I have volunteered with Finchley Foodbank since 2000 and was previously the Chair of the charity. I am currently the Chief Operating Officer of an insurance business and have previously held strategy and commercial leadership roles in a number of global organisations, such as FremantleMedia and IWG. Prior to that, I started out my career in a strategy consulting firm.

  • Helena Pugh

    TRUSTEE & MEMBER, MANAGEMENT GROUP

    I lead on digital support for clients, carrying out our surveys and helping to develop our policies and procedures. Before retiring, I worked for several local authorities, health trusts and the community sector carrying out research and developing health and social care policies. I have also volunteered with Healthwatch Barnet and been a local Health Champion.

  • Kevin Ramsey

    TRUSTEE

    I have had a long career in Media and Broadcasting, including Senior Leadership roles at the BBC and more recently at Sky, where my last role was at Director level in Sky Sports. In addition to volunteering at the Foodbank, I have a strong commitment to mentoring and developing young and disadvantaged people.

  • Father Peter Scott

    TRUSTEE

    Father Peter-Michael Scott is the parish priest at St Mary’s catholic church in East Finchley in north London. Finchley Foodbank is based in the parish centre, behind St Mary’s.

Foodbank Management Group

This Group supports the Foodbank to operate effectively and sustainably, with individuals leading on key business areas including operations, communications, IT, finance, volunteers, safeguarding and fundraising.

  • Brittany Jones

    CHAIR OF MANAGEMENT GROUP

    I began volunteering with the Finchley Foodbank during lockdown. After working in various roles I joined the Management Group in 2022 and became Chair at the end of 2024. I love volunteering for the Foodbank because it's allowed me to get more involved in my local community and meet some amazing people!

    I'm a mum of two grown sons and have lived with my family in North London for nearly 30 years. I'm a retired academic researcher and lecturer in management and organisations, having spent most of my career at the LSE. I love running, reading and cooking for friends.

  • Ann Campbell

    COMMUNICATIONS

    I have an extensive executive career in senior communications roles at household-name brands including British Airways, Primark and the BBC. I am a long-term contributor to our local community through voluntary and trustee roles including as Deputy Chair of Enfield Carers Centre and trustee at the Fashion and Textiles Children’s Trust

  • Antonella Cavedaschi

    OPERATIONS

    From 1980 until 2020 I worked alongside my husband in our family businesses, involved in all aspects of running the company successfully. In 2017 I got involved in an animal charity, starting as a volunteer, and became Chair of the Trustees until 2023 when I decided I wanted to help the people in my local community hence my volunteering role at FFB in Operations. Here I can bring my experience to the ‘hands-on’ side of volunteering, such as managing client sessions

  • Helen Doran

    TREASURER

    I joined Finchley Foodbank as Treasurer in September 2021, using my expertise to help ensure its financial stability and sustainability. I am a qualified accountant with a background in the financial sector. Before becoming self-employed, I worked as a senior fund accountant at Columbia Threadneedle Investments and Schroders plc.

  • Rachel Nelson

    OPERATIONS

    I am the Foodbank Manager, having previously been the Administrative Assistant. I moved to Finchley during lock down and started volunteering with Finchley Foodbank, which is when I started my Foodbank journey. I have a background in Human Resources having worked with London Underground for 17 years, before taking a career break to look after my children.

  • Andrew Parks

    IT AND DATA PROTECTION

    I retired in December 2021 after a career in IT and Data Protection in publishing and publishing services. I implemented three Data Protection Acts. Designed and built software to make businesses more efficient while minimising personal data risks. Latterly I managed the IT Team running systems for a 24x7 operation. Finally I was DPO with responsibility for 20 million records, accessed by more than 400 people across three continents and GDPR compliance.

  • Maria Pierides

    SAFEGUARDING AND HEALTH & SAFETY

    For the FFB, I lead on Safeguarding and Health & Safety. I have been a volunteer since January 2020. As a volunteer, I am responsible for the Foodbank mobile phone, answering any telephone enquiries on a daily basis. I have lived in Finchley for over 40 years. I am a retired Inclusion and Special Needs Coordinator, having worked in a local school for 25 years.

  • Helena Pugh

    TRUSTEE & MEMBER, MANAGEMENT GROUP, INFORMATION SUPPORT

    I lead on digital support for clients, carrying out our surveys and helping to develop our policies and procedures. Before retiring, I worked for several local authorities, health trusts and the community sector carrying out research and developing health and social care policies. I have also volunteered with Healthwatch Barnet and been a local Health Champion.

  • Becky Tomlin

    GRANT APPLICATIONS AND GOVERNANCE


    I have lots of experience of administering charities and awarding grants.  I'm a regular leader of Saturday client sessions. I work at a livery company in the City of London but in my previous careers I worked for many years at PwC as a corporate tax adviser and later as a researcher in the English Faculty at Cambridge.

  • Jonathan Baker-Bates

    DIGITAL SUPPORT

    I joined Finchley Foodbank as a Digital Champion in 2024 as part of the Inclusion Barnet initiative, helping foodbank clients access online and offline services and support. While my professional background is in user experience design, as a member of the Management Group I work in a systems administration role with the IT and information support leads to meet the foodbank's data protection, security, and communication needs.