North Cotswold Foodbank launches new advice centre

North Cotswold Foodbank has launched a new advice centre to help people who are struggling.

The charity has teamed up with other agencies who specialise in housing, energy, IT, debt, health and disability. The new partners will join Citizens Advice which already attends the food bank’s weekly sessions at the Baptist Church in High Street, Chipping Campden every Friday from 12 noon to 1.30pm.

“The aim is to offer extra support to people who come to the food bank because they can’t make ends meet,” said Development Manager for North Cotswold Foodbank, Kevin Carden. “For a lot of our visitors, the underlying problem isn’t hunger – it’s poverty. And if we can offer extra practical support by working with our key partner organisations with things like rent, heating bills and debt, it gets them back on track so they won’t need the food bank any more.

“It’s not easy to access that sort of support in the Cotswolds. If they don’t have a car, people face a two-hour bus ride into Cheltenham when they can hardly afford the bus fare. We’ve seen what a difference working alongside Citizens Advice can make. This is another step in that direction. It’s about helping people in the long-term so that going to a food bank becomes a short-term stop gap. It fits with our purpose of working with our local communities to relieve personal hardship by providing access to essentials and support.”

North Cotswold Foodbank, Stroud & Cotswold Citizens Advice and P3 will be in attendance at Chipping Campden Foodbank sessions every week. The following organisations will be scheduled to attend monthly: Severn Wye Energy, Bromford Housing, Age UK and Cotswold Friends (digital support).

“We’d urge people to come along on Fridays if they find they can’t afford the essentials and don’t know where to turn. We can’t solve every problem but we’ll do our best to offer support and guidance to help them through,” said Kevin.

The schedule of agencies attending in the next few months is as follows:

October 30: Citizens Advice, P3 (housing, budgeting), Age UK

November 6: Citizens Advice, P3, Severn Wye (energy support)

November 13: Citizens Advice, P3, Bromford (housing)

November 20: Citizens Advice, P3, Cotswold Friends digital support

November 27: Citizens Advice, P3, Age UK

December 4: Citizens Advice, P3, Severn Wye

December 11: Citizens Advice, P3, Bromford

December 18: Citizens Advice, P3, Age UK

January 8: Citizens Advice, P3, Severn Wye

January 15: Citizens Advice, P3, Bromford

January 22: Citizens Advice, P3, Cotswold Friends digital support

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