Bank investing in helping to get food to the needy
FAMILIES IN STAFFORDSHIRE COULD GET UP TO £1M OF EXTRA HELP FROM BARCLAYS
A CHARITY that helps people on the breadline by getting surplus food to them is getting a double boost from a bank this weekend.
Fareshare provisions across Staffordshire are being supported by Barclays Bank to feed families in need throughout the pandemic.
This weekend, Barclays is doubling donations to the charity Fareshare – up to £1,000,000.
The charity – set up in 1994 – distributes surplus food to organisations across the UK which are helping to put food on the tables of people living on the breadline.
For every £1 donated to Fareshare, Barclays will donate £2 – which means a £1 donation from you could provide 12 hot meals to people in need.
The past 12 months have been Fareshare’s biggest year yet, feeding more than 900,000 people a week in 2020, with demand for help creeping up throughout the pandemic.
There are at present more than eight million people in the UK struggling to put food on the table, according to Fareshare – which is why Barclays has stepped up its help until the end of the month.
In Staffordshire, one community group saw around 250 bags of free food being distributed each week, thanks to Fareshare.
A team of volunteers at Biddulph Youth and Community Zone collect food from Tesco three times a week to create meal bags, as well as cook and distribute hot meals for local residents.
They also put together fruit and vegetable boxes, which are sold at a low cost of £3.50, which can be used to make food go further.
Antony Capostagno, who runs the Zone, said: “In the middle of the pandemic we had over 250 people a week coming for food bags, which was probably due to more people being on furlough. We’re still doing around 150 a week though, and anyone from the local area can come to collect them.
“The community has really embraced it and we’re at a time in the world where people need that extra little bit of support so they haven’t got to worry.”
And at the start of the pandemic, Cheshire Food Hub launched to assist in supporting up to 20 community food banks by distributing surplus food from the Fareshare scheme.
Staff and volunteers have been picking up food from Fareshare distribution centres in Manchester and Merseyside, before splitting them into boxes to be distributed to local food bank groups.
The group has seen thousands of food packages head out of the doors to help families and children during times of dire need, like half-term.
Head of Cheshire Food Hub Jo Garner, 48, said: “The food hub doesn’t want to be here, we have to be. We’re acting as a middle distribution layer between the main Fareshare centres and the smaller food bank groups, and taking the logistical issue away from them.
“Fareshare is an invaluable resource and they’ve been an amazing addition to the food provisions across Cheshire. Without the provision of the food from them, we wouldn’t be able to support the number of families and individuals that we see come through the food groups.”
THE nation’s music lovers have been starved of their live fix for so long now.
Many had hopefully bought tickets for festivals last year that ended up being cancelled.
And it looked like the same thing was going to happen again this time round.
But since Boris Johnson’s “road map” announcement on Monday - setting out how the nation will come out of lockdown – many festivals have confirmed they are back on, with some announcing testing stations to ensure visitors are Covid-free.
Some of them are right on our doorstep – including Y Not and Bearded Theory.
One of them, however – the Acoustic Festival of Britain, held at Uttoxeter Racecourse – has been postponed until May next year.
And the most revered of all UK festivals – Glastonbury – is another casualty of the Covid crisis this year.
Festivals that are back on for 2021 include:
Y Not Festival – July 30 to August 1.
The rock and indie festival is held at Pikehall, in the Derbyshire Dales. The lineup is yet to be announced, but previous headliners have included Frank Turner and De la Soul.
Bearded Theory - September 9 to 12.
The rock festival takes place at Catton Hall, Derbyshire. Placebo are among those confirmed to play.
Reading & Leeds Festival - August 27 to 29.
Headlining are Stormzy, Liam Gallagher and Catfish and the Bottlemen.
Tramlines - July 23 to 25.
Taking place in Sheffield, Tramlines focuses on indie acts. This year’s lineup has not been announced, but Jake Bugg and hometown lads Blossoms have performed previously.
El Dorado - July 1 to 4.
Held at Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire, the lineup is yet to be announced.
Field Day - July 10.
The electronic music festival held in London boasts the same lineup as the postponed 2020 edition. BICEP and Adelphi Music Factory feature.
Parklife - September 11 and 12.
The Manchester festival is yet to announce its lineup, but it usually includes mainstream charting acts. Previous performers have included the likes of George Ezra.
Gala Festival - July 31 and August 1.
The dance music festival takes place in Peckham, South London, at Rye Park. The lineup is yet to be announced.
Latitude - July 22 to 25.
A wide range of styles will be on show, with a chart and indie flavour to the weekend. Headliners are Lewis Capaldi, Snow Patrol and Bastille.
Pride Parade (London) - June 26.
The nation’s biggest celebration of LGBT culture.
Creamfields - August 26 to 29.
The long-established Liverpool dance and electronica festival boasts artists including Above and Beyond and Adadra. It is sold out.