Agenda item

Feeding Birkenhead

Minutes:

The Committee considered a verbal update from Andrew Forsey regarding ‘Feeding Birkenhead’, further details were also outlined within the Constituency Managers Report attached to the agenda.

 

Mr Forsey indicated that following analysis of feedback received 360 children had been feed through the Feeding Birkenhead half term projects in the month of October at a cost of £6.00 per child and Neo along with Involve North West had distributed 100 food hampers to families over the Christmas period.

 

Fare Share

 

The Wirral Fare Share was launched before Christmas and was located in Wallasey. Fare Share national was bidding to Your Wirral to cover the yearly costs for three community organisations subscriptions. Another application would be completed to cover three further subscriptions. Further work was to be done to source resources to support staff to provide further projects up to 2020.

 

The Chair highlighted the fantastic work undertaken by the representatives from voluntary sector as part of ‘Feeding Birkenhead’ agenda and on behalf of the Members of the Constituency Committee, suggested that a letter of thanks be sent to all the wonderful projects who had worked tirelessly on assisting with the “Feeding Birkenhead” project, and in particular their fantastic work in helping the Committee counter hunger amongst children.

 

Community Fridges

 

The Constituency Manager, Birkenhead updated the Committee on the progress in relation to community fridges. She indicated that she had spoken to the Council’s Environmental Health Team who had provided guidance and officer advice.

 

The Chair reported that local supermarkets had agreed to help with this project and took the responsibility to clear and replenish the food in the fridges to ensure that the food made available to those who needed it was fresh.

 

It was noted that by the date of the next Constituency meeting, a series of community fridges would be established to offer fresh surplus food at locations in Beechwood, BEE, St. James, Gautby Road and Neo Café.

 

A Member indicated that alongside the work being undertaken on Feeding Birkenhead, particular attention needed to be paid to fuel poverty which was also a cause of concern. In response, the Chair indicated that whilst  distributing food hampers it was noticed that there was big demand for candles which families were using to help with the heating of food; subsequently all hampers were changed to ensure that all food supplied could be consumed without the need for heating, but raised a huge concern regarding fuel poverty which also needing addressing as part of the Feeding Birkenhead agenda.

 

 

 

Food Hubs

 

The Constituency Manager indicated that Neo Café who was working in partnership with the Viking Centre to deliver a range of services including; discounted supermarket, feeding children in school holidays; hampers; luncheon clubs; breakfast clubs and activities.

 

The Constituency Manager indicated that she along with the Chair would be meeting with representatives of the Viking Centre and the Neo Café to discuss Neo’s long term future it was hoped that Neo Café would be able to continue to provide services within the Viking Centre

 

Following a discussion from Members, it was recommended that the remaining £28,750 of the Committee’s funding be allocated to a further two hubs in areas of most need in Birkenhead. St James and Beechwood had both come forward with proposals around delivering a food hub. The proposal from St James was attached as an appendix to the Constituency Managers report.

 

It was suggested and agreed that a Feeding Birkenhead Task and Finish Group be established consisting of Councillors A. Brighouse, A. Davies, S Foulkes, A McLachlan, C Meaden and J Stapleton to consider bids from the St James Centre and Beechwood Community Trust for grants of £15,000 to establish two food hubs.

 

Once established, the Task and Finish Group was also requested to consider a request from the Chair for £80,000 of Your Wirral funding to be used as a block grant towards a new Community Shop in the Pyramids Shopping Centre and should this request be agreed to, a formal request from the Committee be made to Magenta Living.

 

At this point Councillor S Foulkes declared a Personal Interest by virtue of his being a Board Member of Magenta Living.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)  on behalf of the Members of the Constituency Committee, a letter of thanks be sent to all the wonderful projects who had worked tirelessly on assisting with the “Feeding Birkenhead” project,  and in particular their  fantastic work in helping the Committee counter hunger amongst children;

 

(2)  it be noted that by the time of the next Constituency meeting, a series of community fridges would have been established to offer fresh surplus food at locations in Beechwood, BEE, St. James, Gautby Road and Neo Café;

 

(3)  a Feeding Birkenhead Task and Finish Group be established consisting of Councillors A. Brighouse, A. Davies, S Foulkes, A McLachlan, C Meaden and J Stapleton to consider bids from the St James Centre and Beechwood Community Trust for grants of £15,000 to establish two food hubs; and

 

(4)  the Feeding Birkenhead Task and Finish Group be requested to consider a request from the Chair for £80,000 of Your Wirral funding to be used as a block grant towards a new Community Shop in the Pyramids Shopping Centre and should this request be agreed to, a formal request from the Committee be made to Magenta Living.