The Covid-19 pandemic has brought with it an increase in uncertainty for some families, including food security. Barnet Council is committed to helping residents through this difficult time.
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We have worked with partners at the Young Barnet Foundation to establish the Space2Grow: School Holiday Food Grant Fund, with a start-up donation from Barnet Council of £50,000, providing support to holiday hunger programmes.
We also know that many families will turn to food banks for extra support, so we have also arranged for additional stocks to be in place at the council’s Essential Supplies Hub. These extra supplies will help ensure the borough’s food banks have what they need to meet demand for the October half term and, working with Barnet Together, throughout the winter.
At the height of the lockdown our Essential Supplies Hub made 573 supply drops to foodbanks and hospitals across the borough as well as 14,700 deliveries to residents, providing over 400,000 meals.
Cllr Dan Thomas, Leader of Barnet Council said: “Sadly, food deprivation can be one of the many unfortunate consequences of the devastating impact of Covid-19, affecting people across the borough including school children, the elderly and the vulnerable.
“I am delighted that Barnet Council has been able to work with Young Barnet Foundation to establish the Space2Grow: School Holiday Food Grant Fund, and provided £50,000 to ensure that schemes helping to feed our most vulnerable young people have the resources they need. We are also working with voluntary and community sector partners to support our food banks to ensure they are stocked with the necessary supplies to meet any increased demand over half term and the winter.”
Janet Matthewson, Chief Executive of the Young Barnet Foundation, said: “I’m delighted we’ve been able to work with the council to offer this important funding. In Barnet we are lucky to have so many amazing groups, often small and local but offering crucial activities and support to our most vulnerable children and young people. This funding will allow these groups to provide food during the half term and this is further supported by the extra supplies available to foodbanks.”
To apply, visit: www.youngbarnetfoundation.org.uk/space2grow13
Many people have been in touch with offers of support. If you wish to donate to the School Holiday Food Grant Fund, please do so here: https://www.youngbarnetfoundation.org.uk/donate
You can find further information online about where to find your nearest food bank: https://www.barnet.gov.uk/directories/food-banks
Information on a range of other support available can be also be found via our Community Help Hub page: https://engage.barnet.gov.uk/communityhelphub