At the beginning of the pandemic there was a massive influx of donations from across the community. Businesses, schools, churches, local groups and individuals (from near & far) all stepped up with food donations, money and offers to deliver to those in lockdown.

As previously reported, numbers receiving help from the Foodbank during the first lockdown jumped nearly 50%!

We coped!

Nobody was ever denied help.

In a few circumstances we even made deliveries to people over twenty miles away. When your kids are hungry, parents will seek all avenues to put food on the table. In all these circumstances we apply a Vincentian rule, help all you can.

Last month, with the furore over school dinner vouchers we, and a lot of the catering businesses in Heywood again stepped up to the plate. Heywood families were offered free meals and help from across the town. We in turn, supplemented our food parcels to reflect that kids want to eat more than once a day (who knew).

One other thing that has come to light in recent months, there are many families who do not claim universal credit and are not eligible for free school meals. These past 6 months have taken their toll on these families and they are turning to the food banks for help. Getting 60% of a wage does not mean families can pay 60% rent or buy 40% less food.

In the coming weeks, leading up to Christmas, many many more people will find it hard to make end meet. Redundancy, furlough, zero hours contracts, all of these life changing events and will have a massive impact on more families and the Foodbank in turn.

It is fair to say, that most if not all monies collected during the first lockdown has been spent. Companies who made large donations have understandably ceased. This cessation of bulk donations has led to the Food Bank spending more and more to maintain our food parcels.

All forecasters are predicting a rise in unemployment, a big drop in families take home pay and a bigger rise in families registering for Universal Credit.

Having had the experience of seeing a 50% jump in numbers the SVP Heywood Foodbank are concentrating our fundraising message to maintain and supply a basic service to our clients. We believe we will be swamped by families who will now, in the weeks before Christmas and the weeks beyond, need our services.

Unlike other Foodbanks we offer much more than food parcels. We have tried to maintain our “visiting” activities to the old and infirm. So far, the best we can offer are doorstop chats.

One other area which is a massive part our activity is coping with fuel poverty. When a family has no fuel credit, they become desperate. It does not matter what food we supply, if there is no heating or cooking facilities, the exercise is pointless. In past winters we have distributed ~£300/month in fuel vouchers.

We are asking/pleading for grants and donations from as many organisations & individuals as we can. The future looks bleak for so many of our families.

Sometimes we feel that we are attempting to stop a tsunami of need.

We rely on donations.

In the run up to Christmas and beyond we must cope and manage the added effects of

• Lockdown

• Redundancies

• Furlough

• 2 weeks school holiday

• Fuel poverty

• Delays in people receiving Universal Credit (on average 8 weeks)