The Isle of Wight Council has made a U-turn on a decision to cut funding for Isle of Wight community pantries, described as fantastic news for those dependent on them.
Household Support Fund 7 (HSF) investment worth £295,000 has been allocated for the support hubs in a revised decision by cabinet member Councillor Debbie Andre, following a call-in of a prior decision denounced as ‘cruel and heartless’.
HSF 7 is a £742million government funding package to support vulnerable households, distributed through unitary and county councils.
Councillor Geoff Brodie, with the support of 8 other councillors, called in Cllr Andre’s previous 24th April decision – a delivery plan allocating £1,994,369.25 in Isle of Wight HSF. They asked why community pantries were facing a 46% ffunding cut despite overall Whitehall funding ‘only being reduced by 12%’.
The council’s revised Isle of Wight HSF delivery plan supports a range of initiatives including £530,000 in community grants, £400,000 in supermarket vouchers and a utility, food and white goods support scheme worth £350,000.
Cllr Brodie described the updated decision as “fantastic news for all those dependent on support from community pantries and larders”.
Monique Gallop, a coordinator for Cowes Community Pantry, welcomed the change of plan, adding that the cut would have taken people’s dignity away.
She said:
“It (the cut) would be huge. Between all the pantries, I’d say we have at least 300 people visit a week. Out of that 300, that’s going to be at least a minimum of probably 900 people a week that survive off the food from the pantries.
“It would have had a dramatic effect.”
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson has said:
“The cabinet member has considered the recommendation proposed by the corporate scrutiny committee and, as a result, the decision regarding the delivery plan has been amended to reflect a reallocation of funding to once again enhance the offer to the community pantries on a one-off basis.
“Alongside this, a piece of work has been independently grant funded to support the pantries to explore options to become self-sufficient for the future.”
Today is the day of the “U” Turns