Agenda item

To discuss the cost-of-living crisis, with presentations to be received from the following organisations:

·       Warminster Foodbank

·       Warminster Action Group

·       The Fudge Trust

The Chairman drew attention to a briefing note included in the agenda pack from the Engagement and Partnerships Team from Wiltshire Council, which outlined the role of Area Boards and examples of how they can support the cost of living in Wiltshire.

Warminster and District Foodbank - Jean Colgrave

The Area Board received a presentation from Manager of the Warminster and District Foodbank, Jean Colgrave. The presentation covered the following points:

·       The Foodbank was first set up in 2009 in a garage and is now located in Dewey House with 30 volunteers.

·       The priority of the Foodbank is to provide food to people during a crisis on a temporary basis. Food is provided on a pre-planned list for those that need it.

·       People use the Foodbank for a variety of reasons and situations, with more recently an increase of use from Ukrainian and Afghan refugees.

·       The pandemic had been tough, with face-to-face contact stopped, however the Foodbank worked via phone calls and made referrals to Cornerstone.

·       Recently the Foodbank has provided for 113 residents, with 51 of these having been children. This is a stable number and can be accredited to other organisations within the town providing food vouchers, for example Iceland and Morrisons.

·       The main concerns for the Foodbank are that their lease will complete in March as well as concerns of homelessness within the town.

Following the presentation there was time for the following questions and points to be raised:

·       Regarding homelessness, it was stated that people can be supported via the Streetlink App as well as the Wiltshire Council Rough Sleepers Team.

·       It was clarified that though people are encouraged to collect their food from the Foodbank, there is a delivery service available.

Warminster Action Group – Annie Davis and Jo Bridle

The Area Board received a presentation from Annie Davis and Jo Bridle from the Warminster Action Group. The presentation covered the following points:

·       The Group began during the first lockdown via Facebook, when it was recognised that there were local people shielding and were therefore unable to visit supermarkets for food or to pick up prescriptions.

·       The Group therefore provided food and prescription deliveries for those in need as well as providing weekly phone calls for those who experienced loneliness.

·       The Group now has over 50 volunteers and has a focus of reducing loneliness and isolation within Warminster, with visits now being conducted to the homes of residents, also encouraging them to leave their homes to engage in activities and the local community.

·       The Warminster Action Group house has been open for over a year with 30 people visiting each week over the 3 days that they are open.

·       In recent times the Group has been running a school uniform bank and is also set to become a warm space, with free soup set to be offered.

Following the presentation there was time for the following questions and points to be raised:

·       Reference was made to a church driven group in Chapmanslade, which has also been providing a foodbank as well as an isolation and loneliness system. It was stressed that it would be positive for such organisations to work together to create a wider-spread impact.

The Ernest & Marjorie Fudge Trust – Fran Pearson

The Area Board received a presentation from Chair of the Ernest & Marjorie Fudge Trust, Fran Pearson. The presentation covered the following points:

·       Reference was drawn to the poster which had been included within the agenda pack to raise awareness of the Fudge Trust.

·       It was outlined that Ernest & Marjorie Fudge had left their money to the people of Warminster, with £100,000 available each year to people who need the money.

·       Applications for funding are completed online through a system and are then discussed at quarterly meetings during the year.

·       Previous examples of funding included scooters for people with disabilities to give them freedom and disabled toilets for churches.

Following the presentation there was time for the following questions and points to be raised:

·       It was questioned whether the Terms of Reference of applications to the Fudge Trust could be updated to included residents within BA13 postcodes.