The country ’ s biggest network of foodbanks charges volunteers £1,500 to hand out free food in its name , it emerged yesterday . The Trussell Trust asks for the ‘ donation ’ from churches and community groups which open new foodbanks . The money , volunteers are told , is needed to pay for the Trust ’ s staff , branding materials , PR advice and relationships with supermarkets such as Tesco . Setting up costs : Trussell Trust asks for a 'donation ' of £1,500 from churches and community groups . But the hefty bill has come under scrutiny following controversy over the false Trussell Trust claim that it fed more than a million hungry people last year . In fact , the one million figure was the number of food parcels handed out – so did not account for repeat visitors . One critic accused the network – which charges foodbanks £360 for each subsequent year after the initial fee – of taking money that could be used to pay for food . The Trust , which has links with the Church of England , hands out parcels containing three days ’ worth of donated food to people referred by doctors , social workers and other agencies . The number of Trussell Trust foodbanks has risen eight-fold in just five years , to 445 . Its most recent accounts show an annual income of nearly £3.4million . A pitch to prospective volunteers says : ‘ We ’ ll provide you with all the tools , training and know-how that you need to start a foodbank so that people in crisis in your town don ’ t have to go hungry. ’ They are told they will be given a website , publicity materials and ‘ opportunities to talk to the Press ’ among other benefits . The Trust says : ‘ Foodbanks are asked to make a £1,500 donation towards these costs. ’ PR and branding : Critics accuse the charity of taking money which could be better spent on food . But the charge has sparked criticism from other charities and community groups . One foodbank volunteer leader said he saw ‘ no benefit paying £1,500 upfront to TT which could be used to buy food ’ . Last night , Trust chief executive David McAuley said : ‘ The cost to the Trussell Trust of helping to start a new foodbank is higher than the contribution that the foodbank makes. ’ He said last year the Trust gave its volunteers ‘ cash grants and in-kind goods which totalled double the amount that foodbanks contributed financially ’ .
uk charity accounts for ' donation ' from churches and community groups . It then receives £ 360 per year from each group running charity food banks . Critics accused the charity of taking money which could be spent on charity . But Trust donations ‘ cash grants and in - kind goods ' were double the donation .