HUNGRY families will be referred to the foodbank by text under new rules agreed by charity trustees and the council.

Swindon Foodbank was one of several projects whose future was put in doubt this week when managers Swindon Christian Community Projects announced it would shut by May 31.

But SCCP trustees have conformed that the foodbank’s seven distribution points in the town will remain open past the May 31 deadline date.

However, the removal of its franchise by national foodbank charity the Trussell Trust has required new procedures for those seeking support from the Swindon Foodbank.

Tom Price, a trustee at SCCP, said that anybody issued with a Trussell Trust voucher before May 31 would be able to use it into June. After that, referring agencies like Swindon Borough Council will need to direct people to particular foodbank distribution centres to collect food.

He said: “The foodbank is going to operate exactly how they’ve been operating. The seven foodbank centres will continue to operate.”

This interim measure would continue for the time being, allowing time for foodbank volunteers to develop a longer term solution.

Rent had been paid on the Swindon Foodbank’s Westlea warehouse until December 20, Mr Price said. SCCP was working with the council to establish how running costs for the foodbank’s vans would be paid.

The trustee added: “At this stage we don’t want financial donations, because SCCP can’t do anything with them past June.” He asked that people stop any standing orders, but that they renewed them when a new foodbank charity was established.

Mr Price said he met with several dozen volunteers earlier today to discuss the proposals and had also written to the Swindon agencies who refer people to the foodbank.

For details on Swindon Foodbank distribution centres, visit: https://swindon.foodbank.org.uk.