A NEW fund launched to help charities and community organisations across Reading as they cope with the cost-of-living crisis has handed out its first grant.
The John Sykes Foundation is offering a helping hand as the good causes aim to help others through these difficult times by opening their doors to those who cannot heat homes or feed their families due to the rising costs.
And the first recipient was Caversham’s Weller Centre, who will use the funding to help with its food bank.
Last month, John Sykes, founder and chair of trustees, visited The Weller Centre to present them with their grant.
During his visit, he learnt more about the centre’s role in supporting the community, including running a weekly free youth club for secondary-aged school children, a warm space café with wifi, electrical points, and printing/scanning available, a community bakery which provides access to supermarket surplus food at no cost, and general support and advice.
The team work alongside GP Surgeries, social prescribers, and social care that highlight people who may be in need of the foodbank service.
Hazel Bingham, who helps run The Weller Centre, said: “We are so grateful for this grant. It will allow us to purchase person specific food, including food for those that require specialised diet such as gluten and dairy free, and make our food bank provisions more nutritious and varied.
“It will also allow us to purchase the less donated items for the food bank.”
It is not just food. Ms Bingham said they recently spent £7 on a rice cooker for a microwave, which will help the recipient save money. They had preciously bought packets of rice that can be microwaved, so they didn’t have to use the stove.
“This will save a fortune to the resident in rice as he usually buys microwave packets of rice which are not only expensive but don’t feed too many people in one sitting,” Ms Bingham explained.
“We look forward to being able to provide more of this type of practical and money saving support to the local community in the future.”
Mr Sykes was moved by the work The Weller Centre has been doing.
“It’s a sad reality that many local people find themselves facing the difficult prospect of food poverty,” he said.
“The cost-of-living crisis is driving many into food insecurity, at a time when food prices are rising, and thus demand for food banks have skyrocketed.
“We are grateful to have Hazel, Simone, and their Team at The Weller Centre and to help support them by awarding this grant to best place the funds to those who need it most, whether that be for food or for energy-saving kitchen equipment to make more affordable and healthy food.”
The Foundation is welcoming applications for a cost-of-living crisis grant. For more details, log on to: https://www.johnsykesfoundation.org/cost-of-living-crisis-fund.php
For more on The Weller Centre and the services they provide, visit: https://wellercentre.co.uk/
