Plans are being put together by Swale Borough Council to help local foodbanks support more local families.
Cabinet members have been meeting with groups such as Children and Families, Faversham Foodbank and Sittingbourne Foodbank that run local projects to get a better understanding of the need and take up of the service.
These meetings also gave councillors the chance to see how the foodbanks work with each other and other agencies, and helped the council identify ways it could support them to become more effective.
Cllr Julian Saunders, deputy cabinet member for community at the council who is leading on the project, said:
“It’s a sad fact that there are a significant number of local people - including families with children - who simply cannot afford enough food to get by.
Thankfully, there are groups of dedicated volunteers who have been working hard to fill the gap - and it’s time for us to support them.
Cabinet members have been actively speaking to different local foodbanks to try to identify useful ways we can help them to help more local people.
By looking at provision across the borough, we’ve been able to help identify areas where there are gaps in provision, as well as flag up opportunities for more cooperation between groups.
We’re keen to help them work efficiently to support people, including making sure people are getting information about eating healthily, and signposting towards relevant advice to help address their need for a foodbank in the first place.
We also need to make sure people are more aware of our foodbanks so that donations of food and cash increase.”
The plans to support local foodbanks are being finalised but will include funding to help with logistics and advice.
The project is being put together by a number of cabinet and deputy cabinet members including Cllr Angela Harrison, Cllr Richard Palmer, Cllr Hannah Perkin and Cllr Saunders.
Swale Borough Council
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