Northamptonshire-based housing association Greatwell Homes has donated £1,500 to foodbanks to help support people across the UK during a particularly difficult winter.
£1,000 has been donated to local foodbank and charity The Daylight Centre Fellowship, in Wellingborough, and £500 has been donated to The Trussell Trust, which runs a network of foodbanks across the UK.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in more people and families needing to use foodbanks than ever before, with The Trussell Trust reporting an increase of 89% in emergency food parcel demand during April this year compared with the year before.
The Daylight Centre Fellowship is an independent local charity and foodbank based in the East Midlands that helps people in meeting personal challenges, ranging from complex mental health issues to drug and alcohol abuse.
The Daylight Centre has sent out over 16,000 food parcels and hot meals to families in Wellingborough and surrounding areas since March, more than any other year.
The donation from Greatwell Homes came as staff asked to donate their £10 they normally get for a Christmas dinner to those in need over the festive period.
‘Vital services’
Carina Fisher, chief executive of the Daylight Centre Fellowship, said: “The support from the local community has been incredible – it’s very moving indeed.
“We are so grateful for donations such as the one received from Greatwell Homes as it makes our work possible and enables us to continue offering these vital services in our local community.
“Our volunteers have been working tirelessly in extremely difficult circumstances.
“They have been there throughout the pandemic to offer a lifeline to people who have needed it the most.
“People have had a really tough year, so it’s great that we can bring some festive cheer – we’re really busy, which is great.”
Musician, broadcaster, and vicar of Finedon Richard Coles, who is also the patron of Greatwell Homes, announced the news of the donation to the Daylight Centre via a video on Twitter, where he commended the work of the local charity.
He said: “Housing need doesn’t go away, as we know only too well at Greatwell Homes.
“The Daylight Centre runs a foodbank and provide invaluable services and support for people in need in this most difficult of years.”
Greatwell Homes (formerly Wellingborough Homes) is one of the largest housing associations in Northamptonshire, owning and managing over 5,000 homes in Wellingborough, Kettering, Raunds, and Northampton.
Read next: Sovereign launches £40k Your Community Your Choice fund
Are you a social housing professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.
