A food bank charity has equipped its volunteers with body-worn cameras in the hope they will protect them after two spitting attacks.
Gillingham Street Angels food bank posted on Facebook on Monday revealing that volunteers would be wearing body cameras following a second spitting incident.
“Again today we’ve had staff members spat at. Who would’ve thought volunteering at a food bank you would need a body-cam. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. The amount of abuse these volunteers put up with is terrible,” the post reads.
Tracy Charlick, who is the chair for Gillingham Street Angels and manager of the food bank, confirmed the new measure to Third Sector.
“It has become necessary, after a second incident of spitting, to equip our volunteers with body-cameras in order to protect them,” she said.
“It’s hard enough trying to attract volunteers and those that do offer to help don’t expect to be abused or treated badly when they are just trying to support others.
“As well as CCTV, we hope the body-cams will deter individual attacks on our volunteers as we are experiencing a rise in anti-social behaviour, with people becoming more needy and less tolerant of other people’s needs.”
Set up in 2018, Gillingham Street Angels provides food packages and essentials for around 18,000 people each month.
Miranda Beebe, head of volunteering at the Trussell Trust, which has more than 1,300 food banks in its network, said that volunteers should never face abuse for their work.
Gillingham Street Angels is not affiliated with the Trussell Trust.
“Food bank volunteers who work in the Trussell Trust network and those who volunteer at independent food banks such as Gillingham Street Angels are incredibly important to their communities and we could not continue the work we do without them,” said Beebe.
“It never fails to amaze us how much time, energy and skill people are willing to give. Volunteers give tirelessly, under incredibly challenging circumstances, and should never face threats, abuse or violence.
“An emergency food parcel and compassionate, practical advice can make all the difference to someone facing a crisis and should be able to be delivered in a welcoming environment. We would like to thank all food bank volunteers for giving so much to their community.”
Gillingham Street Angels’ “mission is helping the homeless, needy and vulnerable people of all ages in the Medway towns,” according to its page on the Charity Commission website.
It had a total income of £222,792 for the financial year ending 31 December 2021, with an expenditure of £191,809.
It has five trustees and 56 volunteers.