‘How is the Foodbank doing?’ The answer which we would like to give is that food poverty has disappeared and no-one needs us any more.
Unfortunately the reverse is true. The inadequacy of the minimum wage, zero-hours employment and the government’s cruel Universal Credit, have increased demand in our area from an average of just under half a metric ton of food to ¾ tonne per week – over 50%, since Universal Credit was introduced at the end of November 2018. We expect to provide around 3,000 food parcels this year.
Anyone in Cobham, Oxshott, Stoke D’Abernon, the Horsleys and Effingham who needs food and has insufficient money to buy it, (for whatever reason), can apply to one of our food voucher issuers for a voucher (following the steps at https://cobhamarea.foodbank.org.uk/get-help/).
The voucher, which specifies how many mouths are to be fed, can be exchanged for sufficient food to provide a nutritious diet for a week, from our distribution centre, every Friday lunchtime at the Methodist Church hall in Cedar Road, Cobham. There is no limit to the number of times food can be obtained – so long as the need persists, we will respond. We will deliver to home in cases of urgent need or where the client does not have means of transport.
Problems we are facing include the impending sale of the Methodist Church, which may oblige us to find an alternative distribution centre – but where we have been blessed with a kind offer in principle from Surrey Fire and Rescue Service to make available a room in Painshill Fire Station – which is where our van is already kept.
After 5 years of operation, we have decided to replace our distinctive and very capable Mercedes Sprinter van – with another similar one, five years younger. The picture shows the new van’s updated livery.
We commend two excellent reports, ‘The Lies We Tell Ourselves – Ending Comfortable Myths about Poverty’ (see http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/files/truth_and_lies_report_final.pdf), which deals with the national picture, and The Walton Charity’s excellent ‘Inequality in Elmbridge’ (see https://tinyurl.com/yc94jv7f).
We are very grateful for all our supporters’ faithful and generous support.
Hugh Bryant (General Manager and Trustee)
