A number of organisations in the Coalville area have benefited from the £540,000 grant being given to food banks and community groups to support Leicestershire residents most in need.

 

Leicestershire County Council is using the money to help vulnerable people and those shielding to access food, toiletries, and other essential supplies through local foodbanks and community hubs across the county.

 

The money will also bolster the work of voluntary groups, supporting vulnerable people and those self-isolating, and help the council to deliver emergency food parcels to people who are shielding.

Among the Coalville beneficiaries are: Agar Nook Community Association – £4,021 for core costs and equipment; Charles Booth Centre Thringstone - £12,500 for running costs; Coalville Education Partnerships CIC - £22,780 for staff and distribution; Feed the Need Coalville - £8,352 for food, volunteer and other expenses; MRC Community Action - £23,700 for running costs; Think FC CIC - £3,079 for meal preparation, volunteer equipment and transport/delivery costs; Woodstock in Whitwick - £1,000 for financial and associated support to individuals self-isolating.

Nick Rushton, county council leader, said: "This extra money is very welcome. It allows us to offer people a helping hand by supporting the community food banks that many rely on.

 

"Times are still tough, particularly for those still in extended lockdown. Supporting vulnerable people remains top of our list and this latest announcement builds on a number of successful initiatives which we've already launched.

 

"Our staff have worked round-the-clock throughout the pandemic and are continuing to to ensure people have the care, food and medicine they need."

 

During the pandemic, the council has also:

 

• Launched a £1.5m fund designed to support communities – a hospice, a homelessness service and a charity supporting young, older and vulnerable people are just three of those awarded money

• Invested an extra £100,000 into the fund to bolster support in extended lockdown areas

• Established a £750,000 fund supporting small businesses to get back on their feet

• Set up a dedicated team to ensure the 25,000 people identified as 'shielded' by the NHS have support and care in place, if required – and delivered hundreds of emergency food parcels and prescriptions

• Supported schools – with around 230 staying open every day and around 3,000 children attending across the county

 

Officers from the county and district councils will be contacting food banks and voluntary groups directly. 

 

The £540k is has been awarded by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) from its Local Authority Emergency Assistance Grant for Food and Essential Supplies fund.

The full list of money given to organisations in North West Leicestershire is:

• Agar Nook Community Association – £4,021 for core costs and equipment

• Ashby Food Bank - £5,000 for running costs

• Castle Donington Volunteer Centre - £12,700 for equipment

• Charles Booth Centre - £12,500 for running costs

• Coalville Education Partnerships CIC - £22,780 for staff and distribution

• Coronavirus Community Response Team - £16,077 for three months of food, care and activity packs

• Feed the Need Coalville - £8,352 for food, volunteer and other expenses

• Home-Start North West Leicestershire – £2,007 for salaries

• Hospice Hope - £16,173 for three months of staff costs

• Long Eaton & Sawley Foodbank - £4,860 for 18 weeks food, delivery costs and staffing

• MRC Community Action - £23,700 for running costs

• Supporting Confidence Through Exercise - £15,480 for staffing and online resources

• The Bridge (East Midlands) – £9,142 for staffing, core and equipment

• The Exaireo Trust - £10,440 for a one-off capital purchase and contribution to running costs.

• Think FC CIC - £3,079 for meal preparation, volunteer equipment and transport/delivery costs.

• Woodstock in Whitwick - £1,000 for financial and associated support to individuals self-isolating