Food clubs distributing essential items to young families on low incomes are about to launch in Bath and North East Somerset and they are looking for volunteers to get involved.
Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Bright Start Children’s Centre team was set to launch the weekly family food clubs in Bath, Radstock and Keynsham before the COVID-19 outbreak, but have since been delivering food parcels to vulnerable families during the pandemic.
Children’s Centre staff have worked with FareShare, other community organisations and local schools to provide more than 150 food parcels to families in the district who have had their income affected by coronavirus.
Looking ahead to when lockdown eases further, the council is preparing to launch the clubs to provide a range of affordable foods to families with children under 11 years of age, living within 15 minutes of the club and who may have a professional working with them.
There will be £15 worth of food on offer for £3.50.
Help is needed for the clubs in Keynsham and St Martin’s to sort the weekly food delivery from FareShare or run the club once a week, both requiring two to three hours a week of a volunteer’s time.
Radstock currently has enough volunteers signed up.
Councillor Kevin Guy, cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “It’s been fortunate that our children’s centre team was ready to launch the food clubs as they’ve been able to quickly organise delivery of donated frozen, fresh and tinned food to families who are struggling to make ends meet during the pandemic.
“The community has really pulled together to make this happen and I’d like to thank the organisations that have supported this initiative.
“Once lockdown eases we want to press forward with getting the food clubs underway so that families on low incomes can access affordable food.
“Anyone who thinks they could spare a couple of hours a week to help at the Keynsham or Bath club can get in touch now.”
Volunteers should contact Pete Godden at Family Action via email [email protected].
