The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF) have announced that grants worth over £35,000 have been awarded on behalf of the Co-Op COVID-19 Fund, to tackle food poverty across the region.
The funding has been awarded to local foodbanks, day centres and charitable organisations to ensure vulnerable people don’t go hungry during these extremely challenging times.
On the Isle of Wight, Pan Together has benefited from £4,028 whilst the Isle of Wight Foodbank has received £5,000.
Pan Together is based in Downside Community Centre in the heart of Pan in East Newport, and is providing hot meals to help those most affected by COVID-19.
Rachel Thomson, Pan Together’s Community Centre Manager, said:
“We are tremendously grateful to the Co-op and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation for this really generous funding which means that we can continue to provide vulnerable local residents with hot home-delivered lunches each weekday as part of our lifeline support services – which, sadly, are now needed more than ever.”
| Organisation | Project Area | Amount |
| Vine Day Centre Trust | Aldershot | £2,180.00 |
| Ripples of Compassion | Hampshire | £1,004.00 |
| Isle of Wight Foodbank | Isle of Wight | £5,000.00 |
| Pan Together | Isle of Wight: Pan, Pan Meadows and Barton, East Newport | £4,028.00 |
| New Forest Basics Bank | New Forest | £4,000.00 |
| Connors Toy Libraries | Portsmouth | £2,000.00 |
| Parenting Network C.I.C. | Portsmouth | £2,660.00 |
| Portsmouth Vineyard LifeChurch: The LifeHouse Homeless Drop-in and Soup Kitchen | Portsmouth | £1,110.00 |
| Citizens Advice Test Valley | Romsey | £1,150.00 |
| Southampton Sight | Southampton | £4,897.00 |
| Colne Avenue Baptist Church | Southampton: Millbrook | £1,280.00 |
| Monty’s Community Hub | Southampton: Sholing and Thornhill | £4,895.00 |
| Tadley & District Community Association | Tadley, Baughurst, Pamber and Silchester | £1,018.00 |
| £35,222.00 |
Rebecca Birkbeck, Director of Community and Shared Value at Co-op, said:
“It’s heart-breaking to think of families and children in the UK going hungry and facing acute challenges during this unprecedented time. The need faced by many families is far more serious now than it was back in the summer and we are determined to do everything we can to support those who are most vulnerable. By partnering with the National Emergencies Trust and UK Community Foundations this funding will quickly go to work. Focusing on what really matters in local communities and providing direct support to those who most need it to make a difference to their health and wellbeing.”
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Grant Cornwell MBE, HIWCF Chief Executive commented:
“We would like to thank Co-op for their generosity, which through the National Emergencies Trust is helping vulnerable people in our communities at this vital time. The charitable sector across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is working so hard to address the issues caused by food poverty and these grants will make a real difference to the lives of local people who are experiencing really tough times, providing them with emergency food and addressing the impact of food insecurity for those most in need.”
