Town council backs effort to support vulnerable residents

Horncastle Town Council is setting £1,000-a-month aside to support a new community effort designed to help vulnerable residents during the coronavirus crisis.
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The venture is being spearheaded by volunteers at the town’s food bank and the Urban Outreach Foundations (UOF) project.

A meeting was taking place at St Mary’s Church this morning (Wednesday) to potentially include other organisations.

Lee Bowman, from UOF, said the project was being set up to help provide vulnerable homes with basic ‘food and amenities’.

Speaking at last night’s meeting of the town council, Mr Bowman, who already runs a successful Outreach kitchen at the Community Centre, admitted the worst of the viral pandemic was still to come.

Apart from the elderly and people on benefits and low incomes, the project also aims to help families who will be affected by school closures which would mean an end to free school meals.

Isobel Forrester, a food bank volunteer, told councillors there was an urgent need to support people.

She said the food bank was already under pressure because it was helping more people than ever.

She confirmed the town’s main Co-Op had agreed to back the project with donations of food, and added discussions were being held with other town supermarkets and businesses.

With many people self-isolating, the first phase of the scheme will primarily supply households with basic ‘dried’ food items.

The second phase - once the situation worsens - will see food cooked at the Community Centre delivered to households.

The priority, said Mr Bowman, will be ‘the vulnerable, elderly and minors.’

Mayor Councillor Fiona Martin described the project as a ‘great idea’ and apart from financial support said the town council would help in any way it could.

Mrs Forrester thanked councillors and said the money and other support would be ‘vital’.

Rev Charles Patrick, from St Mary’s, also supported the scheme and said the church was already helping people in self isolation.

He said: “The Horncastle community has an absolutely wonderful tradition of coming together and supporting each other in adversity.

“What is happening at the moment is unprecedented but I’m sure everyone will pull together.”

Initially, the project will support people on the food bank data base but volunteers are determined to expand it.

• There is an emergency number for people needing support via the project - 07395 905352.

• Anyone needing support/advice from the church should contact St Mary’s Church office on 01507 525600.

• Donations of food and other items will be particularly welcomed at the food bank.

• Volunteers will also be welcomed to help distribute parcels - and any other tasks including picking up prescriptions and delivering shopping.

More details in next week’s Horncastle News.