I will not keep you long. Last year, I stopped drinking for 156 days, using the money saved to help local families in need (with youngsters living in deprivation) with food parcels, vouchers for children's games & funded Christmas Dinner for a few disadvantaged families.

The number of families in need is rising in Salford. Many of their parents go without food to ensure their young are fed. The number of these youngsters who are hungry is increasing.

I wanted to step this 2020 work up in 2021. In January 2021, I set up the Salford Families in need Meals Project (SFinMP). The initial plan was to raise £5000 to feed 50 families in need with youngsters living in disadvantage, on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day in 2021. That initial plan soon changed, and here's why....

Towards the end of January 2021, SFinMP met 'The Bread and Butter Thing' (TBBT) who are a food distribution charity. TBBT will feed a family of four with £35+ of food for a week for a cost of £7.50. That meant, SFinMP could have fed 300 disadvantaged families at Easter for a week and again at Christmas for a week for £5000. That revised plan also changed....

Feeding 300 families in need for two weeks was not ambitious enough - we could do better. In February 2021, TBBT challenged us to raise £30000, for which TBBT would create a permanent food distribution hub to feed disadvantaged families in need for life in Salford. We have risen to the challenge.

Our goal was to raise £5000. By the 8th March 2021, SFinMP had done just that. We had not only passed the pilot test, we had done so 5 months early.

On the 17th March 2021, TBBT announced that our permanent food distribution hub would start on the 1st May 2021. TBBT's announcement meant we are 8 months ahead of schedule. TBBT believe in us and trust us to raise the remaining monies.

SFinMP is reaching out to you and other peoples' goodwill and generosity. Would you consider making a cash donation, as an act of kindness, please?

So what is SFinMP? It's the Salford and Greater Manchester Families In Need Meal Project (SFinMP). I am Dr Antony Edkins, the project incubator & facilitator of SFinMP. I am not on my own. I am delighted to introduce the project team: Julie Larkinson (community and food champion); Tom Marsden (lead project fundraiser).& Victoria Unsworth (food distribution facilitator & headteacher of Barton Moss Primary School). We are delighted that Barbara Keeley MP and Rebecca Long-Bailey MP, our members of parliament, along with Councillor Samantha Bellamy offered to join the project team. All of us have significant experience of making a difference to the lives of the very people, this project will support.

SFinMP has the full backing of some big names. Paul Dennett, our current Mayor of Salford, Professor Ian Stewart, former Mayor of the City of Salford, Councillor Sharmina August (Eccles Ward), the local Rotary Club of Eccles and Glyn Potts, HM Deputy Lieutenant to HM Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester are all providing their voices and support. The project team are delighted that so many have given their support, including Lord Jim Knight (former Schools Minister).

On Sunday 7th February, Kieron Richardson who plays Ste in Hollyoaks offered to be involved in the SFinMP 'in any way we want.' Thank you.

SFinMP’s objects are that 100% of funds raised go directly to benefit these deserving families. I will personally cover 'Just Giving's' handling fees for the £5000 we initially sought. We are also looking for volunteers to spread the message please. You may also like to share ideas about how to support these families in other ways. Your ideas are welcome. I am excited by what SFinMP might bring.

In short, we are committed to doing something constructive to boost the public mood, no matter how small!

I am delighted that Carolyn Cullen ACA, our local chartered accountant of Monton Green Accountancy will be auditing the books for this project.

We are lucky too to have 'Community Hire' on board, who share our values of 'by the people, for the people.'

Finally, SFinMP is a member of SalfordCVS and falls under their charitable status. Our SalfordCVS membership number is #1229