Support and advice from the Compassionate Community Hub
Bath & North East Somerset Council, working with 3SG, Virgin Care, and local NHS colleagues, have set up a telephone line giving advice and support to those that need it during this period.
Call 0300 247 0050 (the line is open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).
Email BATHNES.thehub@virgincare.co.uk
Text 07870 868368
People with concerns over food supply, welfare or well-being should seek support and advice from the hub.
We are urging those residents who are able to safely get support from family and friends or to order their food or medication online, to continue to do so. This means staff operating the phone line can prioritise those who need the most help and get to calls as quickly as possible.
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Grant funding for crisis and affordable food projects in B&NES
The government has made funding available to local authorities to support individuals with food and essential supplies, where the need has arisen because of the Covid 19 Pandemic.
Bath & North East Somerset Council and St John's Foundation are using some of this funding to make £15,000 available to support organisations who deal with the problem of food poverty in the B&NES area. This will include the following schemes:
- food banks
- food clubs
- food pantries
Throughout the lockdown period, many of these organisations have gone above and beyond their remit in supporting residents of B&NES who needed help with food, and they have worked hard to create a safe environment so that residents in crisis could continue to be supported. Along with St Johns Foundation, we recognise this and believe that there is an ongoing need for long-term support to address the causes of food poverty.
What are the grants for?
Grants of up to £3,000 are available to enable organisations and statutory services in B&NES to deliver support to households where residents are at risk of hunger and malnutrition. We will give preference to projects that seek to both address immediate need, and reduce future vulnerability to food insecurity and food poverty.
This funding can be used to fight food poverty in the following ways:
- Providing good quality, nutritious food. This will preferably be fresh and provided via surplus or wholesale sources and public donations, where possible.
- Providing equipment for food storage and cooking for participating households or organisations.
- Covering additional staff costs for staff directly involved in the provision of food to residents.
- Contributing to additional costs to accommodate social distancing rules For example, cleaning materials and their safe disposal, extra space and surface areas etc.
- Funding associated activities for projects wanting to broaden their food-based offer with more holistic support to residents affected by COVID 19.
- Supporting projects addressing the long-term causes of food poverty. This could be helping households increase their income, improving people’s employability skills, or connecting people to local support networks.
Who can apply?
This funding is for organisations only. Individuals cannot apply directly for help.
Your organisation is eligible to ask for funding if the following applies to you and your work:
- You are an established local organisation involved in the provision of food to residents of B&NES, either free of charge, or on a membership basis for a nominal fee.
- Your organisation has an established governance structure. Typically, this might include the following:
- You are an existing statutory service, or are registered with either the Charity Commission for England & Wales or the Scottish Charity Regulator.
- You have a bank account in the name of the organisation.
- You have a minimum of four unrelated trustees.
- You have been established for a minimum of 18 months.
- You provide goods or services to people in need regardless of age, disability, gender or sexuality, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief.
- You are open to working in partnership with the B&NES Food Poverty Steering Group.
- You are able to provide suitable and timely reporting on the work you are doing and its impact.
- Your staff have been trained in food hygiene to the equivalent of Level 2 standard, if they are providing food (this training could be paid for using the grant).
- Your operation complies with current government guidance for COVID-19.
How do we apply?
You can apply online for these grants until the closing date of 5pm on Thursday 22 October.
You will be notified about the outcome of your application in the week beginning 26 October.
If you have any enquiries about the grants funding, contact Damian Peak by email or by calling 01225 396 613.