On Tuesday Executive Board will be asked to agree funding of £22,000 to Wrexham Foodbank.
Cllr David A Bithell, Deputy Leader of the Council and Chair of the Cost of Living Group, said, “The group recently had a presentation from Wrexham Foodbank which was very interesting and showed just how much support they are giving to people in Wrexham who are struggling with the cost of living.
“They do so much more than providing food supplies to people in need and this funding will help them expand their provision.
“I’d like to offer my thanks to all the staff and volunteers at the Foodbank who are making a huge difference to people’s lives.”
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Wrexham Foodbank manager Sally Ellinson said “We are extremely grateful to Wrexham council for the offer of £22,000 which will enable us to continue to provide emergency food parcels and support to ease the impact of the ‘Cost of Living Crisis’ on Wrexham residents and communities.
“Our vision is for a Wrexham where everyone has enough money to afford the essentials in life and where Wrexham Foodbank is no longer needed, but until that day comes we are committed to working alongside our partner organisations and providing food and other essentials items to local people in need.”
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How the Foodbank works
Care professionals such as health visitors, probation officers, social workers and advice centres identify people in crisis and issue them with a food bank voucher code. This means they can receive a food bank parcel of three days’ nutritionally balanced, non-perishable food. They work with around 180 referral agencies in Wrexham.
Clients who attend the foodbank, or receive a home delivery if they have trouble accessing one, also receive help and advice about a range of support services that they may be able to access to help further.
More than Food
Volunteers at the Foodbank can fill out forms and make direct referrals to such things as:
- Fuel Bank Foundation vouchers – for use on pre-payment gas/electric metres.
- Baby Basics – providing a Moses basket full of clothes/blankets/items for a new baby.
- Baby Bank – providing larger items such as pushchairs, cots and stair gates.
- Communities for Work – providing help with basic skills, CV writing, job applications, computer skills, interview technique, motivation and confidence.
- The Salvation Army Identity Programme – giving support to those struggling with addiction (four sessions).
- Healthy Start Vouchers
The funding is part of a £166,000 fund identified to be used to provide help, support and guidance to residents.
The Cost of Living Group is mindful of the pressing need for action and therefore proposes a number of immediate interventions. Recommendations from the Cross Party Member/Officer Working Group to Executive Board are:
- £22,000 – Wrexham Foodbank – to support expansion of provision
- £44,000 – Warm Places initiative. The Council to establish a grant scheme for local organisations to bid for funding to deliver their ‘Warm Places’ offer, this may include provision of meals. Applications will be assessed and agreed or rejected by an WCBC Officer Group and reported to the Cross Party Member Officer Cost of living Crisis Working Group.
- £60,000 – Citizens Advice Bureau to extend services specifically to provide additional advice/support associated with the cost of living crisis. This would be subject to a 3 year Service Level Agreement at £20k per annum, to be reviewed annually.
- £5,000 – To deliver a number of community based ‘Cost of Living Information and Advice Multi-Agency Events’; and provision of printed materials and information
- £10,000 – To be administered by housing to explore potential initiatives to enable people to have access to local community resources to aid their health and well-being with a focus on the most vulnerable
The remaining £25,000 will be to respond to any further priorities and opportunities as they emerge.
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