Isle of Wight food banks set to gain £15,000 in fight against food poverty
A local housing association has stepped in to provide funding for the Isle of Wight Foodbank across the island to help tackle food poverty. Recognising the incredible work that their food banks across the island have been doing to support some of the island’s most vulnerable residents, Southern Housing Group has provides £5,000 of grant funding directly towards their running costs.
The Mayor of Cowes, Cllr Lora Peacey Wilcox, said: ‘(Local food banks) the Isle of Wight Foodbank has been providing instrumental support over these past few months and it is great to see them being supported in return. Southern Housing Group’s support will be a huge help in our fight against food poverty and our commitment to helping the community through these challenging times.’
Annabel Palmer, Director of Community Investment and Care at issue Southern Housing Group, added: ‘Although the island is no longer in lockdown, food poverty remains a big concern for many families across the island. Southern Housing Group is keen to support Isle of Wight Foodbank in any we can to ensure no-one goes hungry.’
Food banks can be a critical lifeline in times of crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic has been no different. The Trussell Trust, which seeded the Isle of Wight Foodbank, found that there was an 89% increase in food parcel demand and 67% rise in household referrals to foodbanks at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic with demand continuing to increase
Southern Housing Group has also grant funded £10,000 towards the cost of a new delivery van. Hannah King at Isle of Wight Foodbank said: ‘The van will be a valuable addition for our collections and deliveries service, enabling us to distribute food to hubs around the island. It’s become hard to imagine the service without it!”
The financial support scheme is part of Southern Housing Group’s wider food poverty strategy. Through its Community Investment budget, the Group are supporting a number of foodbanks and projects across London and the South East to ensure that local communities have access to healthy and affordable food.