Sainsbury's Eccleston New Mill Street Local

The objective of the charity is the relief of food insecurity and poverty, in Chorley through the establishment of a network of Food Clubs. We also focus on social isolation and helping to get people out into the community.

Our foodbank was founded in 2011 and we have more than 40 agencies that refer into people into our emergency food provision. We serve approximately 50 families/individuals per week by providing generous food parcels containing fresh, bakery, chilled , cupboard and long-life foods that encourage a healthy and varied diet. We utilise Neighbourly and Fareshare to offer a varied selection of food and to reduce food waste. Each person collecting from the foodbank can have a free meal from Cafe Connect where we give out our food parcels. We also provide free functional Maths and English courses at the learner's pace every Friday, again with a free hot sandwich and drink. This covers entry level to level 2 and includes examination fees and certification. As part of building resilience and community, we also offer free CAP Money Skills and Life Skills courses. These courses help with all areas of budgeting, energy, relationships, nutrition and wellbeing. We have a strong and positive impact on our community, are well established and well known. We seek to feed families and bring hope throughout the Chorley Borough.

Compassion Acts supports adults and children facing hardship by providing emergency food through Southport Foodbank, in line with The Trussell guidelines. Alongside this, we run Food Pantries, a Community Market and offer benefits advice, including advocacy and support at benefit tribunals. Our projects are delivered across the North Sefton area. While the Foodbank provides vital emergency assistance for people in crisis, its support is designed to be short term. Many families and individuals continue to struggle once the immediate crisis has passed. Our Food Pantry helps bridge that gap by offering members the opportunity to shop for around £30 worth of groceries each week for just £5, choosing the items that best suit their household. Val turned to Compassion Acts after facing a long wait for her benefits. Referred first to the Foodbank and then to the Food Pantry, she found more than just practical support. "I was full of panic and anxiety, wondering how I was going to cope if I ended up on the street. The volunteers at the Food Pantry were lovely. It gave me back my confidence and self-esteem. Without going there and meeting people, who knows what could have happened?"