School Pantries help to fill the gaps for families
More than 90 Wirral schools have received bulk deliveries of food and other essential items as part of efforts to help young families deal with the impact of the cost of living crisis.
The support has been provided under the Early Years Essential Hampers & School Food Pantries project, which is being co-ordinated by local charity Neo Community on behalf of Wirral Council.
Funding for the £1.3 million project has been provided by the Department for Work and Pensions under Wirral’s £6.1 million Household Support Fund 4 allocation.
The Leader of Wirral Council, Cllr Paul Stuart, visited a local school taking part to meet with staff delivering the scheme and learn about their experience. The visit was timed to coincide with the national Household Support Fund Awareness Week, which runs from 16 - 22 October.
The Council Leader said:
The Cost of Living crunch is affecting almost everyone, with many families struggling to make ends meet.
I’ve visited Eastway Primary in Moreton to see how the Council is using the Household Support Fund to provide essential food items for this – and around 90 other Wirral schools – taking part in the School Pantry project.
It’s reassuring to see how the scheme is filling the gaps and helping to make sure that our children and families get the food they need.
The first of round of deliveries of ambient food such as tinned and other long-life goods, along with essential toiletries, have been distributed to local schools, with further rounds planned for the late autumn and early in the new year.
Help is also available to residents who are struggling and need help with food and energy bills, as well as other essentials, through the Household Support Fund. More information is available on the Wirral Council website at www.wirral.gov.uk/costofliving or by calling 0151 606 2005 if you are unable to go online.
To see other support that may be available to you, please visit the Government's Cost of Living Hub.
Information about food and other support available is also posted on the Wirral Infobank website at www.wirralinfobank.co.uk.
