Lidl Barton-Upon-Humber

Cooperation Humber is a community food co-op based in Barton upon Humber. We are a non-profit membership group that offers its members quality groceries by sourcing and distributing food which would have otherwise been wasted. We charge a low weekly price, only to cover costs. The co-op is owned and organised by its members, who together decide if/and we buy in bulk on behalf of the members, and how to run the project. It is a non-profit collective, set up to meet members’ needs and is entirely controlled by the people who join it.

Wrawby Village Hall Lunches was set up over ten years ago to provide hot meals and companionship for the people of Wrawby and surrounding villages. During the Covid lock down period, when the Village Hall Lunch users couldn’t use this outreach, food parcels were delivered by volunteers from Wrawby Methodist Church, to doorsteps of vulnerable people, those who lived alone or were unable to leave the home due to shielding, for sixty weeks. This not only delivered food but also gave the opportunity to chat to the volunteers (who stood socially distanced in their gardens) In the last year, Wrawby Village Hall lunches has seen a sudden and dramatic drop in its food donations and volunteers were funding the food deliveries from their own pockets to continue this support. We subsequently joined with Oikos/ Brigg Food Bank in nearby Brigg (1 mile away) Oikos is staffed by volunteers from across the community, but especially from local Anglican and Methodist Churches. Oikos collects food surplus from four local supermarkets (2 miles radius), donations of food from the general public at designated drop off points, and from within the local churches and schools. We are also supported by the Nottingham Building Society (premises)and charity events and donation from local individuals and businesses. Oikos receives referrals from third parties such as North Lincolnshire Citizens advice (Cit A), North Lincolnshire Council, the local Children’s Centre, Adult social services, and others such as GP surgeries. Full details of what we can provide for referrals is shown on the leaflet “Here for You” Oikos offer additional services to food provision, such as the school uniform exchange availability (for local schools), support and advice from Cit A via a direct referrals line, seasonal hampers and vouchers for the local butcher. Wrawby Village Hall Lunches is now back in full swing after Covid, and happily the regular attenders are able to meet back in the village hall in person. Lunch is also delivered to those who through ill health or social anxiety prefer to eat at home.

We work from our project base on Massey Street, St Georges Road, offering a range of support services to residents living in the Hessle Road area of Hull free of charge. Our sessions include; open access youth sessions where young people can take part in activities such as music, crafts, sport and team games as well as access support around issues they are experiencing such as bullying/friendships, staying safe, sexual health, mental health and drug and alcohol misuse. We also offer sessions which focus on increasing confidence, we deliver domestic abuse awareness raising sessions and offer school holiday activities. For young people who are experiencing more complex issues we offer intensive one to one support to help them to deal with what is happening more effectively. This support is tailored to individual need, lasts for as long as necessary and can include supporting young people to attend appointments, advocating on their behalf and offering a listening ear. We also offer sessions to local residents which focus on improving health and well-being, reducing isolation, improving confidence and self-esteem and increasing access to other services. We do this through sessions such as weekly coffee mornings, gardening groups, young parents play groups and cookery sessions. We also offer one to one support to adults and this can include help with debt management, domestic abuse, housing/homelessness, employability and mental health. This support can often be very intensive, spending several hours with a person who is in crisis, but often avoids the need for more specialised support being required. In addition to our group sessions and one to one support, we have a free community gym which is open to local residents and a charity shop which provides volunteering opportunities and offers good quality, used items to local residents at very cheap (or free) prices. Sadly, a lot of our work at the moment is focused on supporting people with the cost of living crisis and we find that many of our service users need more food parcels and support with fuel poverty. Whilst we don't operate a food bank (because we just don't have the resources), we do provide food parcels to people who are registered to our project although we are finding it difficult to keep up with the demand.