Peasedown St John-based Somer Valley Foodbank will be merging with its Bath counterparts on June 3.

The new combined service which also includes Keynsham Foodbank as part of the merger, will now be known as Bath, Keynsham & Somer Valley Foodbank, and will continue to operate as part of Genesis Trust.

Foodbanks have been facing more challenges in recent years, such as an increase in the volume and complexities of clients’ needs and ever-expanding rules and regulations which result in increased workloads and costs.

Merging the three foodbanks is intended to help them do their best to serve their clients from across the region, such as by generating economies of scale where they can.

The foodbank continues in partnership with the Trussell Trust and their nationwide network of foodbanks. Clients from Bath & North East Somerset are already able to access any of the three foodbanks once they receive a voucher.

They have also joined together in providing Citizens Advice support across all three foodbanks, funded by the Trussell Trust.

For anyone who contributes financially to Bath Foodbank, the payment details will remain the same, meaning nothing will change.

Anyone who currently supports either Somer Valley Foodbank or Keynsham Foodbank should look out for new details of how they can continue to support them, which will be available on Bath Foodbank’s website.

Anyone who would like to start or renew their support for the Bath, Keynsham & Somer Valley Foodbank should also go through the website www.bath.foodbank.org.uk.

Grainne Moher, who manages Bath Foodbank and is coordinating the merger, said: “We are delighted to be supporting clients across the region through the merger.

“I have been involved with Bath Foodbank since it started in 2011 and believe this merger will best serve the people who need us.”