Agenda item

Chris Crookes, Project Officer – Wellbeing, was welcomed to the meeting. An overview of the current financial crisis was provided, which highlighted key statistics from the Director of Public Health Annual Report 2022.

Members were made aware that Barnsley received £4.7m of Household Support Grant (HSG) from April 23 to March 24, and Community Funding represented £800,000 of this.  A breakdown of the Community Funding was provided, which included £420,000 of funding allocated to 36 community organisations across the borough, and £180,000 for a fuel support service due to launch in September 23.  This would provide fuel vouchers to support those on pre-payment meters and it was noted that Berneslai Homes had a package of support for their tenants in a similar position.  It was noted that £200,000 had been allocated for a second round of funding for community providers, aimed at winter support.

Members were made of the schemes funded in the Central Area, such as Worsbrough Community Pantry, Stairfoot Food Bank, Mind, Body and Spirit and schemes delivered through Oakhill and Oakwell Rise Primary Schools.  Noted were the Boroughwide Funded Schemes such as Age UK and DIAL Warm Homes Advisors and support through Citizen’s Advice Bureau and Community First Credit Union.

Questions were raised about whether Ward Alliances could apply for finance to fund schemes, and it was agreed that it be confirmed whether this was possible.  It was recognised that the finance available had already served to fund some projects in the area, which may have otherwise applied to the Ward Alliance.

Members noted the recently approved Barnsley Food Plan 2022-2025 and the associated priorities, they were also made aware of a number of schemes involved in delivering against these.   Noted was the Healthy Holidays Programme running in the Easter, Summer and Christmas holidays and Members noted that this was strictly for those in receipt of Free School Meals.  However, also noted was the support schools sometimes provided such as food parcels.  Discussion took place around how to support families outside of those holidays and how to provide support to those who required it but were not in receipt of free school meals.

Members heard of the Community Shop on the Go, with a successful pilot undertaken in Thurnscoe and of plans to expand this.  Also noted was the work in train to support the establishment of community pantries.  Those present discussed the best placement of Community Pantries, and it was suggested that it was important to have low rents, easy access and a solid volunteer base.

Members were made aware differences in Food Banks, Food Pantries, and Community Fridges, with the ability to support people up the food ladder from crisis to being able to take control of their situation.  Members also discussed the wraparound support available, with signposting from food sources to such as Citizen’s Advice Bureau.

It was noted that Household Support Grant could not be relied upon indefinitely, so work was ongoing to support any group to become more sustainable in the longer term, for example through small membership fees.  It was noted that a toolkit was available to support groups to establish such support mechanisms and that need not necessarily have charitable status.

Questions were asked about how healthy the surplus food provided was, and it was acknowledged that whilst healthy food would be preferred, the supply was related to which food was surplus.

Members discussed different sources of surplus food through such as fairshare, and through contacts with local food outlets such as Greggs, Coop, Tesco and Asda.  It was noted that the use of apps such as Too Good To Go, and Olio was also promoted via the More Money in Your Pocket Website.

Those present then discussed support with hygiene and it was noted that although there were few bespoke schemes, this issues was considered by Health Watch, Youth Clubs, Warm Spaces and Community Panties as part of their work.

RESOLVED:-

i)             That thanks be given for the presentation and update in relation to Community Support;

ii)            That a Tenants First Officer from Berneslai Homes be invited to a future meeting of the Area Council to discuss their support to tenants in relation to the Cost of Living Crisis.