The Swindon Food Collective opened its twelfth food distribution centre on Bath Road in Old Town, Wiltshire, on 24 March 2026. This new site was launched in partnership with the Swindon Foyer to provide easier access to groceries for residents in the local area.
The centre is located within the building managed by the Stonewater housing association and is open every Wednesday from 11am to 1pm. It is available to all members of the public, and residents do not need a formal referral from an official organisation to receive help at this specific location.
This opening brings the charity’s total number of sites to 12 across the region, including locations in Highworth and Royal Wootton Bassett. The expansion follows a significant rise in demand, with the organisation now supporting nearly 11,000 people compared to roughly 7,600 in the previous year due to the cost of living crisis.
According to data from Feeding Britain, research has shown that 10.8 per cent of adults in the town have recently worried about not having enough food. The charity is led by its first chief executive officer, Matt Jones, who was appointed in July 2025, following the retirement of long-serving manager Cher Smith MBE in February 2026.
The charity relies on help from local volunteers and corporate supporters like GWP Packaging to keep its distribution points running. Roughly one-third of the people who receive emergency food parcels in the community are children.
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