Supporting Salford's Food Response

Wed, 12/23/2020 - 12:00

Author

Simon Robinson, Grants Manager

Salford CVS

Making a difference in Salford

The year 2020 has been one like no other. After 10 years of austerity and the rapid growth of food banks, the Coronavirus pandemic has seen Salford CVS return to its roots in supporting food provision for the city's most vulnerable citizens.

Salford Crisis Fund

Fast-track awards to support local communities

In the week before the start of the first lockdown we could see the looming impact of Covid-19 on Salford's communities. After swift discussions with our commissioner at NHS Salford CCG the Salford Crisis Fund was launched on March 19th. Over the following 3 months we awarded over £78,000 in grants to 100 local community, voluntary and social enterprise sector organisations.

A large number of these awards went towards supporting the community food response - personal shopping and delivery as well as some provision of both hot and chilled meals. The focus of these food awards were particular communities of identity and discrete geographical communities, complementing the wider Spirit of Salford response co-ordinated by Salford City Council.

Many other Crisis Grants supported wellbeing / mental health support and childrens' activity packs to help Salfordians cope through full lockdown. NHS Salford CCG generously allocated an additional £50,000 to support the Salford Crisis Fund, over and above the money we’d allocated from our Third Sector Fund.

Working with Salford Foodshare Network to support food banks and clubs

The lockdown and ensuing economic crisis saw a huge rise in demand for Salford's network of food banks, clubs and pantries. Working in close partnership with Salford Foodshare Network we created a new Food Response Fund to support the network's member organisations. The initial £30,000 allocated from the Third Sector Fund (NHS Salford CCG monies) was supplemented by £50,000 from our Salford4Good fundraiser, £10,000 from Greater Manchester Combined Authority, £25,000 from TalkTalk, £10,000 from the AJ Bell Trust and £50,000 from DEFRA via Salford City Council.

A further £5,000 from the High Sherriff’s Fund paid for fridges and freezers for three charities, enabling them to offer fresh and frozen food to people in need.

In addition to supporting Foodshare Network members, special awards have been made to Daughters of Salford and Visit from the Stork to support new mums struggling with food and wider baby provisions. Awards have recently been made to organisations providing food for refugees, people seeking asylum and those with no recourse to public funds.

These funds have enabled Salford CVS and the Foodshare Network to make direct investments to support food provision across the city and throughout the year.

Selected quotes received from organisations supported by the Food Response Fund:

"Thank you for this amazing grant gift to us. A perfect gift for the Naz at this Christmas time."
The Naz

"The funding we have received from the Food Response fund has enabled us to provide over 1400 Good Thoughts Bags to families throughout the pandemic. This has helped with children’s nutrition with cereal and fresh fruit, and helped families to support their own emotional wellbeing and come closer together. Families have loved receiving the bags and said they have been such a help through this difficult time."
Lifecentre Salford

"This period is so difficult and coupled with our personal difficult circumstances I have fallen into a depression and can barely do regular tasks around the house and I am feeling guilty that I am not there for my children. Your assistance has brightened our entire house and brought a spark of hope into my life I cannot thank you enough."
L’Chaim Foodbank beneficiary

"Salford Foodshare Network and Salford CVS (and all the organisations who have helped make up the funding) have supported our food response through the COVID-19 crisis. We couldn’t have done it without you. You have enabled us to provide food for people experiencing multiple disadvantage in Salford safely and effectively. We delivered items across the city, and people accessing vocational training with us helped deliver the activities. More than just money, your continued support has given us the confidence to continue during this challenging time for the charity and people we support."
Mustard Tree

Supporting Healthy Holidays

The issue of holiday hunger has been at the topic of much debate this year with the successful campaign led by Marcus Rashford. Here in Salford we’ve been working with Salford City Council, Salford Foodshare Network and wider partners to support the Healthy Holidays programme. Salford CVS awarded £25,000 to local VCSE organisations providing Covid-safe children’s activities and healthy food.

Wider investments

Our plans for the Third Sector Funds were rapidly re-written in April with monies reallocated to support the VCSE sector cope with the impact of the pandemic. Not surprisingly food featured prominently in the ensuing awards.

An award of £25,000 have been made to Fareshare GM who are one of the main suppliers to Salford’s network of food banks. Fareshare GM recently hosted our local food hero Marcus Rashford MBE.

In April a fast-track award of £10,000 was awarded to Salford Jewish Forum (via the Hershel Weiss Centre) to provide Passover food parcels to those most in need in the Orthodox Jewish Community.

Over the summer Salford CVS’s Development Team swung into action to support local people establish the new community interest company ‘For the Love of Food’. In October they were awarded £20,000 from our Covid-19 Recovery Fund to support their community cooking, chilling and delivery of meals operation.

Want to help us do more?

You can donate to Salford's food response!

Salford CVS has set up a trusted route for donations to Salford's food response. The Salford4Good Emergency Response Fund is supported by Salford City Council and NHS Salford CCG. Large or small donations are greatfully received. You can add gift aid to boost your donation by 25%.