Agenda item

To have a further discussion about the cost of living crisis as well as warm spaces available in the local community.

A briefing note was included in the agenda pack from the Engagement and Partnerships Team (Wiltshire Council), which outlined the role of Area Boards and examples of how they can support the cost of living in Wiltshire. In addition, attention was drawn to a poster within the agenda which included a list of organisations and websites, which may be able to provide help for anyone who is concerned about the rising cost of living.

A verbal update was provided by Strategic Engagement Partnerships Manager, Andrew Jack, which covered the following points:

·       Wiltshire Council was awarded £2,728,656 of funding from central government to support residents through winter.

·       The following support mechanisms were outlined including the £50,000 Household Support Grant, the Surviving Winter Campaign, Warm and Safe Wiltshire, Council Tax support and Age UK Wiltshire.

·       At a local level, community groups are available to apply for funding from the Malmesbury Area Board, with further attention drawn to the following Wiltshire Council Websitewhich provides advice for a range of issues.

·       An Interactive Community Directory has been created, which shows what is available to residents in their local community, with 95 warm spaces logged so far, however many are yet to be logged.

·       The interactive map provides information on local warm spaces, their opening times as well as the service they provide.

·       The criterion for becoming a Warm Space is not prescriptive but Wiltshire Council is looking to make use of existing organisations and extend their existing provision.

·       The following Surveyenables local organisations to share details of a warm space that they have set up.

• A similar map for community food provision has also been set up with a need for community fridges, larders, foodbanks and other community food providers to be registered to assist them in becoming more well known. The following Survey enables such food providers to provide their information to Wiltshire Council.
• It was noted that for those not able to access the internet, all of the libraries in Wiltshire have registered as Warm Spaces with staff trained on warm spaces and able to assist those needing to use a computer.

A verbal update was provided by Kim Power (Mayor of Malmesbury and Chair of Malmesbury Area Health and Wellbeing Forum), which included the following points:

·       A weekly calendar has been created in collaboration with Cllr Gavin Grant and Andrew Jack to highlight what is available locally, with services spread over the course of the week.

·       The calendar includes various key people and sources including the library, Malmesbury Abbey, King’s Church, the Activity Centre and Riverside Centre.

·       It was outlined that the calendar has the aim of providing for all demographics and locations in Malmesbury, with examples of the Toddler Group and Thermal Thursdays cited.

·       In addition to the Community Fridge and Foodbank, a new Coat bank is opening in partnership with the Riverside Centre and HEALs.

·       St Aldhelm’s Church will also be resurrecting the Luncheon Club at the Town Hall.

Heather Chivers, Trustee of the Malmesbury and District Foodbank was invited to speak to the Area Board. Heather covered the following points:

·       The Malmesbury and District Foodbank covers the North Wiltshire Area, with centres located in Malmesbury and Cricklade.

·       The Foodbank has seen an increase in the number that they are supporting, with 14 individuals attending an hour and a half session last week.

·       Regarding demand, last year the Foodbank was receiving 800kgs of food for distribution, but this has now risen to be 2.2 tonnes of food.

·       It was stated that if anyone would like to be able to refer to the foodbank, they could get in touch with Heather through the following details, phone: 07929 338059 or email: heather@malmesburydistrict.foodbank.org.uk.

·       The foodbank previously received grant funding from the Area Board, which allowed the service to provide fresh food cards to individuals, which acted as vouchers to be used in shops.

·       Though the Foodbank receives many referrals from organisations such as local surgeries, housing organisations, schools and HEALs, there are still areas which have black holes with few referrals taking place.

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

·       Admiration was shared for the Foodbank, particularly with how they had dealt with the increase in demand.

·       It was questioned whether the Foodbank was in need of more donations, with it clarified that the Foodbank uses their Website to highlight what items are needed and what are not. Furthermore, the website lists the donation points in the Malmesbury Area.

·       It was stated that an issue often experienced by charities are people that go under the radar.

·       It was suggested that for promoting the Warm Spaces and the Foodbank that local village newsletters and noticeboards are used as generally they have a greater outreach to those without the internet.

·       The Chairman drew attention to the Wiltshire Council Cabinet Meeting which took place on 29 November, where the Leader provided a further update on cost of living support.

·       It was clarified that the Community Fridge is independent from the Foodbank and is ran by HEALs and is stocked by Aldi and the Co-op.

·       Andrew Jack reminded Heather that the Foodbank would be eligible for grant funding from the Area Board and that she would be able to apply for funding for both Malmesbury and Cricklade.