M&S Kingswood Hull

EMS Ltd is an incorporated charity that has been operational since November 2009. We work with, residents, community groups and local businesses to alleviate food and fuel poverty. Basically, we proved food to families who may otherwise go without. Our services operate under the following company objectives: Growing: Developing community allotments, growing spaces and edible gardens on unused land so residents can grow produce close to their homes. We also have a therapy allotment that is available for organisations to use. Energy: Offer a range of practical energy saving equipment, support and advice so residents can save money on their fuel bills. Food: The Hull Community Shops we turn surplus produce collected from supermarkets/suppliers into affordable food for residents in food poverty. We have seven shops operating around the Hull. Cooking on a Budget sessions; working with residents to improve their cooking skills in a social setting. Freedom Food Project; cooking nutritious ready-meals (priced at £3.50) for up to a family of four and delivered to community fridges located around Hull. Nature: Environmental education in schools including tree/seed planting, along with the building of bug hotels and bird/bat boxes. Actively recruiting and working with volunteers with various abilities on all of our services to increase their self-confidence, health and general well-being. Working with partner organisations, residents, and community groups to develop effective projects that effect change. Impact: Within our various projects we support over 89,000 residents annually this figure increases year on year as the cost of living continues to rise.

At Westbourne House, We provide short term accommodation 24 hours a day for 53 people. We serve 3 meals a day, ongoing support with a designated and committed support worker, signposting and referrals to any relevant services and assistance. Our education and enjoyable activities promote social inclusion and wellbeing. We want to help our service users to not only live independently but to thrive. That's why we offer assessments to all homeless people who attend our service. This helps us to understand any issues that are preventing each person from maintaining a tenancy successfully. We are then able to refer them to a more appropriate form of accommodation OR work with them with a person centred approach to help them become ready to live independently in the community.

Age Uk Hull have signed up to this project with neighbourly to hopefully use this project in the most positive way we can. As my job as Independent Living Co Ordinator I want to make sure my Service Users in the Day Service and any other service within Age Uk Hull are benefiting from your project. With this been on a weekly basis we can guarantee the Day Service will be receiving fresh produce to use within the Day Service or distribute to some of the vunerable clients to take home and this gives us piece of mind. As an Organisation we do frequently have to give out emergency food parcels to the Elderly who are in a vunerable situation and this project helps us as a charity immensely. This age group of adults at times rely on us very much and sometimes we are a life line for them when they have no one else.