For Mark, volunteering at our Food Redistribution Centre keeps him active and allows him to make a difference for others in his retirement. He’s been part of the team since 2022, volunteering as a driver one or two days each week.

“I’ve seen first-hand how communities can struggle,” he says. “I grew up in the North East, I was 18 in the 80s when there was an economic downturn.

“I had a long career with BAE Systems and was looking forward to retiring but you still need to do something. I wanted to get out and do something physical after years of office work and attending meetings. So to be loading a van, delivering stuff, collecting stuff; it’s so different to what I’ve done before.

“I’ve been here 2.5 years now, tending to work Wednesdays. I drive around the Tesco stores, collecting all the food that customers have donated. I used to do Tuesdays too, driving up to drop food off with the charities in Cumbria. It was nice to see the people getting the food.

“You think the Lakes is such a lovely place to live but when you see these old mining communities, it’s not all millionaires in houses overlooking the hills, there’s quite a bit of deprivation.

“In an ideal world we shouldn’t need food banks but unfortunately, they’re a necessity.

“I feel like I’m making a difference and I’m doing something positive, and it breaks my week up.”