Category: News

Feeding Liverpool’s Christmas Appeal

This Christmas, we are asking residents and businesses to join together to support Feeding Liverpool’s Christmas Appeal to aid the work of Feeding Liverpool and our 70 member charities that provide emergency and community food support in the region as we work towards #GoodFoodForAll.  

Over 132,000 people in Merseyside are having to access emergency food to feed themselves and their family – if they were to all hold hands, the line would stretch from Liverpool all the way to Birmingham.

We are asking those who are out celebrating Christmas with work colleagues and friends in bars or restaurants to give whatever they can afford via our Just Giving page to help us continue our work this winter and beyond.

Food poverty is not just a challenge for the most deprived households: with increasing taxes, rents, mortgages, food prices and energy, many households previously regarded as “comfortably off” are finding themselves needing the support of food banks and similar community projects. It is estimated that as many as 3,000 National Health Workers will be amongst those hoping for support to feed their families. 

Feeding Liverpool Director, Naomi Maynard, said:

Food charities in the region are at crisis point; they are experiencing unparalleled levels of need – over 2,100 emergency food parcels in Liverpool are being distributed every week to people in need – at a time when food supply is dwindling. The most effective way to provide the ongoing support needed is through a financial donation. We urge the people of Liverpool out in local bars and restaurants celebrating Christmas to think about the 132,000 in their community who are struggling to put food on the table, let alone celebrate Christmas. 

 

This is a huge number of people in our community who need support; 132,000 individuals is equivalent to a line of people holding hands from Liverpool to Birmingham (roughly 100 miles). Your support this Christmas will enable us to continue ensuring those in our community who are in crisis can put good food on the table this winter and beyond. 

 

In our region, we have some of the most deprived communities in England, but also some of the wealthiest. In truth, the Liverpool region has the widest gap between rich and poor of anywhere in England. It is certainly within the gift of the Liverpool community to start to address this challenge.

How you can support the appeal:

  • Make a donation to our Christmas Appeal which will run the length of the Christmas and New Year party season. Individuals can donate through the Just Giving page. For organisations and businesses who would like to donate, you can donate through our Just Giving page or alternatively contact our Office and Finance Administrator, Gentian Khan, on [email protected] for other ways to make a donation.
  • Share our Christmas appeal with your friends, colleagues and networks by downloading this poster and display it at your place of work or share your support through use our social media assets (download this individual social media asset or this business / organisation social media asset)
  • Fundraise for our Christmas Appeal through a targeted fundraising event during your organization’s Christmas celebrations, such as a raffle or promises auction during a Christmas Party
  • Add a donation onto a specific product you sell, if applicable, following Hawksmoor Liverpool who are donating 50p to Feeding Liverpool from every sale of mince pies during the festive season.

Feeding Liverpool’s mission has already garnered the support of local businesses that share its goal of tackling food poverty. Matalan, leading fashion and homeware omni-channel value retailer, based in the North West, is rallying it’s colleagues to dig deep and donate what they can to support the charity and their local community. Matalan will match all donations made by colleagues whilst also donating all proceeds from its annual Christmas raffle to the cause.

Local restaurant, Hawksmoor Liverpool will once again support Feeding Liverpool through their mince pie fundraiser giving 50p to the charity for every mince pie sold in the restaurant, building on their successful partnership throughout 2023.

Matalan CEO Jo Whitfield said:

Food is such a big part of Christmas, but the reality is that many families will struggle to put food on the table this year due to the rising cost of living challenges. As a business that has called Liverpool its home for more than 30 years, we are proud to be supporting Feeding Liverpool to help more families have access to good food and the joy that brings.

 

Thanks to generous Matalan colleagues across the UK who are supporting the cause, and with all proceeds from our annual festive raffle being donated, we are able to support 2000 families this Christmas. At Matalan, we live by our values, and ‘think family’ couldn’t be more fitting right now. I ask those that can, to donate – however big or small. It will make a huge difference to struggling families this Christmas.

Hawksmoor Business Development Manager, Emma Hocknell said:

We have been supporting Feeding Liverpool since Hawksmoor Liverpool’s opening in November 2022. Our customers and staff often enquire about the charities that we support and how they can get involved. Making an affordable donation to Feeding Liverpool over the Christmas and New Year party season is a great way to support those who are most challenged by the cost of living crisis.

 

We hope that all Bars and Restaurants in Merseyside follow suit so those that are most able to help can make a big difference to our wider community.

 

Click here to make a donation to Feeding Liverpool’s Christmas Appeal 

The Winter Boost Project 23/24

It isn’t right that anyone needs to use a foodbank. Sadly many in our city do, with over 2100 emergency food parcels being given out every week in Liverpool.  At Feeding Liverpool we continue to campaign to end the root causes of poverty whilst ensuring people have good food at points of crisis.

Last winter we boosted over 7,700 emergency food parcels with fresh fruit and vegetables through the Winter Boost project. This Winter, Feeding Liverpool will once again be teaming up with emergency food providers in Liverpool to boost emergency food parcels with fresh fruit and vegetables, supporting the health of families in a crisis.

Starting from December 2023, we will be partnering with six of our member organisations: St Andrew’s Community Network, South Liverpool Foodbank, Micah Liverpool, New Beginnings Improving Lives CIC,L6 Community Association and The White Chapel Centre to support people in crisis this winter.

If you’d like to support The Winter Boost Project and our broader work towards Good Food For All: please give through our Christmas Appeal or contact Gentian Khan [email protected]  

Hear from Cheryl and Sikarthmi about the difference The Winter Boost project makes:

Cheryl’s story

Cheryl 51, from Toxteth, is a mother of two and has four grand children. One daughter and granddaughter depend on her. Cheryl had been working as a nurse and began working as a cleaner before the pandemic to fill financial gaps. After some time, the work fizzled out and Cheryl and her family were back to square zero putting them into poverty right at the time when her daughter and granddaughter had no income.

Cheryl was reluctant to use foodbanks because it’s all tinned food, and she has multiple allergies. She uses her food as medicine. When she relies on tins she get sick really quickly.

Having fresh fruit and veg in their food parcel means Cheryl’s family are eating nutritious food and their immune systems are boosted. Cheryl says: “We need our immunities boosting during this season anyways, even without Covid, its flu season, its cold season, we need a strong system”

Sikarthmi’s story

After leaving Sri Lanka, Liverpool has been home to Sikarthmi and her five children aged 2, 5, 9, 10 and 15, for the last eight years. Since her husband left, she has struggled financially, and her spousal visa expired. Her and her family’s future feels uncertain.

Her children love the fresh fruit and vegetables they receive at the foodbank. In the evenings they will eat fresh carrots and peppers, dipping them in yoghurt.

Sikarthmi says: “The foodbank feels like a family. It is more than the food I receive, it is a place where I feel loved and accepted, giving me the strength to face the road ahead.”

Join us for the launch of ‘Without access to Justice: the work and welfare problems driving food insecurity’

You are invited to join The University of Liverpool School of Law and Social Justice and Feeding Liverpool for the launch of their new report: ‘Without access to justice: The work and welfare problems driving food insecurity’. This report, draws from powerful stories of people of working-age who were using food support spaces, including food banks, food pantries and other community organisations in 2023.

It contains a series of recommendations responding to the report’s four key findings:

  1. People of working-age are experiencing food insecurity because they can be trying to get-by on an income that is below the minimum level promised by law.
  2. Accessing legal rights is excessively and often unnecessarily complicated.
  3. The current substance of employment and welfare rights is insufficient to protect people of working-age from food insecurity.
  4. Being without access to justice puts mental and physical health at risk.

This report, and its recommendations, are particularly relevant to:

  • Employers and trade unions
  • Local authorities and education providers
  • Universities
  • Charities providing food support spaces, local and regional food network and all those working to tackle poverty and inequality.
  • Health professionals and those working in and around the topic of health inequality
  • Civil servants, members of parliament and those working in and around Government who are concerned about equality, fair employment and public health

Please join us at either of our two launch events:

Wednesday 17th January 2pm – 4pm at The University of Liverpool School of Law and Social Justice

This event will include a include a presentation from the report authors, reflections from key local stakeholders and a facilitated discussion exploring how organisations and communities across Liverpool can respond to the recommendations in the report.

Report Launch and discussion: Without access to justice Tickets, Wed, Jan 17, 2024 at 2:00 PM | Eventbrite

Tuesday 23rd January 11am – 12.30pm Online

This event will include a presentation from the report authors, reflections from key national stakeholders with an opportunity to ask questions to the authors and panelists.

Online Report Launch: Without access to justice Tickets, Tue, Jan 23, 2024 at 11:00 AM | Eventbrite

The Winter Boost Project 23/24

It isn’t right that anyone needs to use a foodbank. Sadly many in our city do, with over 2100 emergency food parcels being given out every week in Liverpool.  At Feeding Liverpool we continue to campaign to end the root causes of poverty whilst ensuring people have good food at points of crisis.

Last winter we boosted over 7,700 emergency food parcels with fresh fruit and vegetables through the Winter Boost project. This Winter, Feeding Liverpool will once again be teaming up with emergency food providers in Liverpool to boost emergency food parcels with fresh fruit and vegetables, supporting the health of families in a crisis.

Starting from December, we will be partnering with six of our member organisation: St Andrew’s Community Network, South Liverpool Foodbank, Micah Liverpool, New Beginnings Improving Lives CIC,L6 Community Association and The White Chapel Centre, to support people in crisis this winter.

If you’d like to support The Winter Boost Project and our broader work towards Good Food For All: please give through our Christmas Appeal or contact Gentian Khan [email protected] 

Hear from Cheryl and Sikarthmi about the difference The Winter Boost project makes:

Cheryl’s story

Cheryl 51, from Toxteth, is a mother of two and has four grand children. One daughter and granddaughter depend on her. Cheryl had been working as a nurse and began working as a cleaner before the pandemic to fill financial gaps. After some time, the work fizzled out and Cheryl and her family were back to square zero putting them into poverty right at the time when her daughter and granddaughter had no income.

Cheryl was reluctant to use foodbanks because it’s all tinned food, and she has multiple allergies. She uses her food as medicine. When she relies on tins she get sick really quickly.

Having fresh fruit and veg in their food parcel means Cheryl’s family are eating nutritious food and their immune systems are boosted. Cheryl says: “We need our immunities boosting during this season anyways, even without Covid, its flu season, its cold season, we need a strong system”

Sikarthmi’s story

After leaving Sri Lanka, Liverpool has been home to Sikarthmi and her five children aged 2, 5, 9, 10 and 15, for the last eight years. Since her husband left, she has struggled financially, and her spousal visa expired. Her and her family’s future feels uncertain.

Her children love the fresh fruit and vegetables they receive at the foodbank. In the evenings they will eat fresh carrots and peppers, dipping them in yoghurt.

Sikarthmi says: “The foodbank feels like a family. It is more than the food I receive, it is a place where I feel loved and accepted, giving me the strength to face the road ahead.”

Liverpool’s Good Food Plan Scoops Award

Liverpool’s Good Food Plan partnership has been awarded a prestigious Sustainable Food Places award.

The Good Food Plan, which has a driving vision of “Good Food for All”, was launched in October 2021 and is led by Feeding Liverpool and Liverpool City Council, with support from partners across the public, private and voluntary sector.

The partnership are delighted to have been awarded a Sustainable Food Places Bronze award. This Sustainable Food Places Award is a national, evidence-based recognition and celebration of places taking a joined-up, holistic approach to sustainable and healthy food. Awardees have demonstrated activity and impact across their food system by the food partnership and their stakeholders to create a local ‘Good Food Movement’.

The Bronze Award recognizes the Good Food Plan partnerships work to promote healthy, sustainable and local food, and to take on some of today’s greatest social challenges, from food poverty and diet-related ill-health, to tackling the climate emergency and the loss of independent food retailers. The awards panel highlighted Liverpool’s exemplary work in dealing with food poverty and diet-related ill-health, and its commitment to increasing access to affordable healthy food.

They also praised the city’s progress towards building a good food movement, involving diverse communities and people with experience of poverty.

Liverpool City Council Leader Cllr Liam Robinson said:

To receive this award is a wonderful achievement for Liverpool and highlights the progress being made towards our commitment to ensuring that Liverpool’s residents have a right to food. Many challenges remain ahead but we will continue to build on this to ensure everyone in our city has access to healthy, nutritious, sustainable food.

Professor Matthew Ashton, Liverpool’s Director of Public Health, said:

We are really pleased to receive this prestigious award, showcasing the collaboration between Feeding Liverpool, Liverpool City Council and partners to promote healthy, sustainable and local food. Each of us has a role to play to build a city where everyone can eat good food and this award demonstrates the progress the partnership has made towards achieving the Good Food Plan’s goals.

Dr Naomi Maynard, Good Food Programme Director at Feeding Liverpool, said:

I am delighted that the hard work of hundreds of organisations and communities across Liverpool towards Good Food for All has been recognised on the national stage. Whilst the challenges we face are significant, the progress made over the last few years has highlighted what can be achieved when we take a joined up, holistic approach to sustainable and healthy food.

Leon Ballin, Sustainable Food Places Programme Manager, said:

Liverpool has shown just what can be achieved when creative and committed people work together to make healthy and sustainable food a defining characteristic of where they live. While there is still much to do and many challenges to overcome, Liverpool’s work through the Good Food Plan and food partnership Feeding Liverpool has helped to set a benchmark for other members of the UK Sustainable Food Places Network to follow. We look forward to working with them over the months and years ahead to continue to transform Liverpool’s food culture and food system for the better.

Invitation To Tender – Fruit & Veg Bags

Feeding Liverpool would like to work alongside a delivery partner to provide up to 50 healthy fruit and vegetables bags per week to a community group located in Norris Green for a period of up to 6 months (December 2023 – May 2024).  

The delivery partner would be responsible for sourcing and purchasing healthy fruit and vegetables, dividing them into eco-friendly bags (or similar), and delivering them to the centre in Norris Green on either a Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning before 10am on a weekly basis, starting week beginning 4th December 2023. The bags should be ‘family-sized’, aimed at households with children.  

We welcome proposals from local businesses, social enterprises or community organisations, outlining their ability to deliver this project. Feeding Liverpool follows Liverpool’s Good Food Plan Good Food Procurement Principles; we will, therefore, prioritise proposals which use local suppliers and work within supply chains that enable fair employment.   

Proposals should include: 

  • Your full organisational details, including – where appropriate – your charity number/company number and whether you are a Real Living Wage employer 
  • A proposed budget, including references to how many bags you could provide and the length of time you could undertake this service 
  • Reference to how your proposal aligns with the Good Food Procurement Principles  
  • References to any similar projects undertaken by your organisation, including details of the scale of this work 
  • Details of the expected contents and size of the fruit and vegetable bags (kgs)   

Proposals should be within the project budget of £12,000 (including VAT). 

Please send proposals to [email protected] by 5pm on Friday 10th November 2023.  

Feeding Britain’s New Resource Library

Feeding Britain have launched a new resource library to be used by organisations across their network when they are undertaking food projects. As a result of Feeding Britain’s partnerships and work with community groups, these documents and resources have been compiled in order to share good practice and save people time.

Split into two sections, the site contains both guidance on setting up a particular type of project and general resources on more univeral topics.

Documents in regards to food provision include:

  • Affordable food clubs
  • Cooking classes
  • Community meals
  • Community fridges
  • Emergency food
  • Collecting and re-distributing food

More general resources are available concerning:

  • Policies and procedures
  • Employment and volunteering
  • Food safety and hygiene
  • Training
  •  Food supplies
  • Wraparound support
  • Food delivery
  • Recipes
  • Data collection
  • Campaigns and government policy
  • Research, reports and evidence
  • Sustainability

In addition to the ease of navigating the site, each page also includes a helpful definition, webinars and links to further contact information.

It must be emphasised that all documents need to be reviewed and updated before being used by organisations for their individual projects. The site is, however, a constant work in progress and can be added to at any time by everyone.

The link to this important resource can be found here

Brickyard Garden Unveiled at the People’s Place

Award-winning garden ‘Brickyard: Grow, Cook, Eat’ arrived at its new home at Everton in the Community’s (EITC) The People’s Place.  

Jonathan Jones, Conal McGuire, Dr Ruth Hussey, Dr Naomi Maynard, Ian Snodin, Professor Matthew Ashton – Photo credit: Everton in the Community 

Fresh from its appearance at the Tatton Park RHS Flower Show, the sustainable outdoor space was officially unveiled by Evertonian and designer Conal McGuire from Conal Studio, Jonathan Jones at EitC and Dr Naomi Maynard from Feeding Liverpool as part of an event attended by a variety of stakeholders, including Everton Ambassador Ian Snodin, Director of Public Health at Liverpool City Council Professor Matthew Ashton and Merseyside’s High Sherriff Dr Ruth Hussey, who cut the ribbon and declared the garden open for community use.  

Visitors were also treated to a cooking demonstration by Feeding Liverpool trustee Michelle O’Dwyer from Bay Tree Catering, showing how the homegrown produce can also be cooked and shared in the garden. 

Brickyard has been made possible thanks to Conal Studio, who gifted the garden to EitC. It will be used to support one-on-one therapy sessions, group counselling, community events and outreach work to aid positive mental health and wellbeing – hence its permanent residence in the charity’s purpose-built mental health and wellbeing hub.  

The garden brings growing good food to the heart of L4 and will be accessible to organisations in Feeding Liverpool’s network to use as part of our work on Liverpool’s Good Food Plan.  

Photo credit: Conal Studio

Our Director Dr Naomi Maynard said:  

 “The garden looks fantastic; we are so excited to share it with Feeding Liverpool’s network in collaboration with EitC. This garden brings urban community food growing into the heart of L4, taking an important step towards everyone in Liverpool being able to grow, cook and eat good food in their local community.” 

Liz Fisher, Dr Naomi Maynard, Elena Vacca – Photo credit: Everton in the Community 

Jonathan Jones, Senior Programme Manager at www.evertoninthecommunity.org commented:  

 “We’re delighted and extremely grateful to host the Brickyard garden at The People’s Place. It’s such a welcome addition to our mental health and wellbeing hub and will serve many different purposes for our staff, participants and the local community. This sustainable outdoor space will bring a sense of calm and serenity to L4, help tackle issues of food insecurity and enable us to enhance our offering at EitC.” 

Dr Ruth Hussey, Michelle O’Dwyer – Photo credit: Everton in the Community 

Conal McGuire at www.conalstudio.com said:

“It’s so rewarding to see the concept of the garden come to life. The last month has been a whirlwind, after winning a Royal Horticultural Society gold medal and Best Terrace and Slim Space Garden at Tatton and then relocating it to its new home at The People’s Place. It’s all worthwhile seeing first-hand how the garden will help to support and sustain the important work that takes place here for many years to come.”

Household Support Fund Allocation Survey – support for organisations in Liverpool

Feeding Liverpool has been allocated a proportion of the Household Support Fund to support the food supplies of emergency food providers and community food spaces over the next few months. This is to enable these organisations to continue to support households experiencing food insecurity.

To receive a proportion of the Household Support Fund to spend on food supplies, emergency food providers and community food spaces must:
  • Fulfil all the criteria on the ‘eligibility criteria’ page of the survey below
  • Complete the survey in full
  • Agree to provide monitoring data on how this resource has been spent.

The funding period will be between October 2023 and April 2024.

The full terms of any allocation of funding will be set out in a partnership agreement with Feeding Liverpool.

The primary purpose of this fund is for organisations to purchase food supplies to enable their existing activities to continue. Recognising the increased pressures on organisations this winter in terms of their own energy bills, we are also able to offer eligible organisations a grant of £500 towards these costs.

To enable us to make a fair allocation of funds, during this survey you will be asked how many people you provided regular food support for during the week Monday 19th June – Sunday 25th June 2023. Please have this information on hand when completing this survey.

If this was not a typical week for your organisation, you will be asked to choose another week in June which better represents your activity.

You will have the opportunity to provide details about any of the following types of regular food support your organisation provides:

  • Emergency food parcels
  • Community food spaces (e.g. food pantries, food union, community market, community shop)
  • Community meals / meals which are included as part of an activity your organisation offers
  • Any other regular food support your organisation offers

This funding cannot be used to support food-related activities which are aimed solely at people aged under 18 (e.g. a primary school breakfast club or after school club).

The deadline for applying for this funding is 11:59pm on Sunday 10th September.

Unfortunately, without exception, any organisation whose survey response is received after the deadline will not be eligible for this fund.

We need to take care to not ‘double fund’ any work, so if some of your food support work is in partnership with another organisation (e.g. St Andrews Community Network, The Big Help) then please liaise with them about who is best placed to receive the funds for that type of provision.

Please note, if your organisation received funding via Feeding Liverpool’s Household Support Fund in January 2023, you do not need to complete this survey, as the monitoring survey that you have received also acts as your application for this round of funding.

 

For any questions email Gentian Khan at [email protected].

 

View Survey Questions Here (PDF)

Complete Survey Here

Job Opportunity: Alchemic Kitchen are Recruiting a Mobile Greengrocer for the Queen of Greens

Alchemic Kitchen are recruiting a new Mobile Greengrocer

The Queen of Greens is a mobile greengrocer that delivers fresh fruit and veg to communities hit by food insecurity across Liverpool and some parts of Knowsley. This project is run in partnership with Alchemic Kitchen and Feeding Liverpool.

Customers step on to the bus and pay for their shopping using either card or cash, Alexandra Rose vouchers or Healthy Start cards. Everyone is encouraged to shop on the new Queen of Greens bus regardless of income, to help champion better local food provision and support the venture. The bus enables people to have better choice and to eat a more nutritionally balanced diet.

The current route operates from Monday to Friday and visits 23 stops including schools, health centres, community centres and hospitals, providing people with better opportunities to shop for nutritious food closer to their home or workplace. Similar to a traditional greengrocer, the Queen of Greens bus prioritises stocking local and seasonal produce where possible, with a focus on quality and choice. Funding has been received from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Life Rooms and Torus Foundation to expand the current route to 40 stops in total.

Alchemic Kitchen are seeking an adaptable and friendly mobile greengrocer to work alongside the existing team to help run the Queen of Greens bus route. This new role will help expand the current route over the next few months with a new van.

This role requires a positive attitude and a flexible approach. This is a great opportunity for someone who is passionate about working with people and communities. You will need to be an excellent communicator, have good time management and be able to work well with others whilst also working independently.

Job title: Mobile Greengrocer

Reporting to: Programme Development Manager at Alchemic Kitchen

Hours of work: 35 hours per week, Monday – Friday

Rate of pay: £10.90 per hour. The successful applicant will be entitled to annual leave, sick pay and pension contributions

Contract length: 6 months initial contract ending on, or before, 31st March 2024. Contract has the possibility of extension pending successful funding and/or trading

Closing date: CVs should be sent to [email protected] by 11:59pm on Sunday 20th August. If you have any questions about the role, please email Keenan Humble at [email protected]

Interviews: Interviews will take place at Feeding Liverpool the week commencing 28th August 2023. Applicants will be notified by Wednesday 23rd August if they have been invited to interview

For full details on how to apply and to read the Job Pack, visit our vacancies page.