Norwich foodbank: Update 212

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

 

We’ve had a week of festive-ness with lots of donations, decorations and events underway or round the corner now we’re in December

 

Tesco Success

As you read this, we may well be in Waitrose Eaton, on day 2 of collecting there And this collection is hot on the heels of a 3 day collection at Tesco Blue Boar (Sprowston) where our teams of volunteers, along with Tesco staff and corporate supporters, helped us collect a whopping £714.01 in cash and card donations and almost three quarters of a tonne (730kg to be precise!) in physical donations. We had full bags and baskets dropped off, people shopping almost entirely for us with just one item for themselves and lots of encouragement and feedback. We also had a visit from Alice McDonald (MP for Norwich North) who chatted with the volunteers and the fab Community Champion Shez to find out all she does in the area. Thank you to everyone involved in the prep, on the days and getting the items processed with special thanks to Jon M and Jon H

 

 

Lived Experience

One of our main goals is to reduce the need for emergency food through campaigning for change. We have engaged in national campaigns such as The Essentials Guarantee and met with MPs to discuss poverty across Norwich. We would now like to bring together a group of people who have lived experience of using a foodbank to hear your personal story. The group will meet informally with Jon, myself and Ruth from NCAN (Norfolk Community Advice Network) to see if there are common themes of challenge or hope that we can build on with partner agency’s data and experiences.

Some of you have already kindly been in touch, sharing your story of using either Norwich foodbank or another one elsewhere in the country and what needs to change systemically to prevent this in the future. If you have lived experience of using / needing a foodbank and would like to explore what this group could become, please drop Jon an email: [email protected] The meeting date is yet to be decided (but definitely after Christmas!).

Christmas Tree Festival 

We are, once again, participating in the Rotary organised Christmas Tree Festival in St Peter Mancroft, which is on now until Thursday 12th December. Rachel has done all the rebranded decorations, including incredibly tiny (and incredibly cute!) tins – we found a magnifying glass within our Christmas present stash and put it to good use.

 

 

 

Giving Tree 

Rachel has also been busy organising our Giving Tree, with over 150 referrals of children and parents from a select few (!) referral agencies, for those who would appreciate a gift. We are so grateful to have a good number of donors to meet these needs, including a big financial donation from a local person who rounded up family, friends and colleagues to give to us this year. We also received a big car load of fairy themed items – music boxes, stickers, pens, crafty bits – and one donation of several bottles of posh soap, each with a gift voucher attached which we’ll give to parents.

 

Trussell Film

Not to be confused with the film ‘we’ are in, but a Trussell made film showing the story of one person who needed the foodbank is up for an award  It was created by a friend of one of our volunteers so locally done which is cool! You can watch and vote for it here

BookBank Job Opportunity

A new paid role is coming up with BookBanks, who we are in partnership with at Bowthorpe giving new free books to those coming to the foodbank, alongside conversation and supporting community engagement. Please see  the advert here and more details.

Volunteering and Mental Health

I have had a request from the Recovery College to share a survey with our volunteers, with particular emphasis on how volunteering can help improve mental health and can lead to paid employment. I don’t know a huge amount more I’m afraid, but said I would share the info and survey and so if you would like more information or to be involved, please do contact them directly (details in the survey).The info says: We are currently at the beginning stages of co-producing a course; the idea has come from several students who have either benefited from volunteering, would like to get into volunteering, or want to transition from volunteering into meaningful paid work. As part of the co-production of the course we are sending you the below questionnaire to gather a broad range of common themes in relation to lived experiences of volunteering and employment. The questions should take about 30 minutes to answer. Responses will come back anonymously, so you can answer questions freely without having to worry about sharing details of challenges you have faced.

 

Advent / December ‘tasks’ 

I have attached a document here with 31 suggestions of how to spend this month – today’s challenge is to ‘welcome laughter where it mingles with all things troubled and trembling’ and I’m particularly looking forward to days 19 and 20…

 

GOOD NEWS

We received a lovely text from a support worker who attended St Elizabeths with a client which we have shared with the team but are sharing with you all here:

‘I’ve just got back with my parcel could you please tell your colleagues thank you so much it is such a great help at this time’.

 

Have a good day and weekend when it arrives everyone!

 

Hannah