The Isle of Wight Community Rail Partnership has been given a helping hand thanks to a £42,800 grant from the Isle of Wight Council’s connect4communities programme, which previously awarded a £66,000 grant at the start of the pandemic.
This extra funding will allow The Gaslight Café at Sandown railway station to continue to serve free hot meals twice a week and provide a weekly delivery of fresh and non-perishable groceries to vulnerable families in the Bay area.
With the cost of living rising and increased energy bills, the funding will ensure the cafe’s ‘Food on the Move’ initiative can continue to run over the winter months.
Community rail manager, Bobby Lock, said:
“We are thrilled to receive this additional funding from the council.
“It means Ali Smith, manager of The Gaslight café, along with her dedicated volunteers, can continue to support vulnerable families with their ‘Food on the Move’ initiative.
“This includes now being able to provide free hot meals, two afternoons a week at The Gaslight Café so we can help tackle loneliness and can also continue the delivery of food packages to local families.
Food on the Move was originally set up in March 2020 at the start of the COVID pandemic to deliver hot meals for isolated elderly people and vulnerable families.
To date, more than 50,000 hot free meals have been served up and thousands of families have benefited from weekly food deliveries. Ali recently received a special recognition award at the Community Rail Partnership Showcase in Southampton, for going above and beyond with her dedication to tackling social isolation and poverty in the Bay area.
Councillor Debbie Andre, Cabinet member for children’s services, said:
“Through our connect4communities project, we have been able to support such schemes as “Food on the Move” and enabled them to continue to provide such a lifeline service that residents have come to rely on.
“This is a wonderful programme, not only helping to provide hot meals and distribute food to people who need it, but tackling social isolation with a friendly face and a chat.
“Well done to everyone involved in this project; it is making a real difference to people’s lives.”
The spring/summer 2022 connect4communities community grants have been allocated to community, charity and voluntary organisations as well as some town, parish and community councils that can support local initiatives tailored to local needs.
If you wish to find out the latest information on The Isle of Wight Community Rail Partnership and the Gaslight Café, visit https://www.facebook.com/bobbyiowCRP
Great. So not only do I get no help with anything because I work for a living but my full price, no-discount council tax goes to fund this. Brilliant!!
Tell me – when the workers who fund all these schemes go broke through heavy bills, then who funds us??