Support our Foodbank this Christmas
Fay Stephenson • November 28, 2021
Christmas is a special time of year. The one time of the year when pretty much everyone can switch off, relax and spend time with family and friends. However, whilst we are planning our parties, buying our Christmas gifts, and sorting our Christmas dinners, we mustn’t forget there are those who won’t be able to afford a special ‘Christmas’ this year. Those who can’t plan past this week’s meals never mind plan for Christmas.
1 in 5 of the UK population live below the poverty line, 2,555 children are living in poverty in York. Everyone in the UK should be able to afford the essentials – to buy their own food and heat their homes. Yet we continue to see more and more people facing poverty with an increase in food parcels going to children. We adapted our services during 2020 so we could continue to support our young people and their families. We started doing ‘Hampers of Hope’ as soon as we could, ensuring families had the food and essentials they needed.
Facts and Figures on Food Poverty in York
- 2,555 children in York are living in poverty
- 3,000 hampers delivered through lockdown
- 154 families received bi-weekly phone calls and weekly food & essential hampers
- 134 young people on our waiting list
So apart from the fact that UK food banks need more support than ever, what else is there to know about this increasingly widespread issue?
- Supporting is easy - Whether you choose to volunteer, donate money, food or toiletry items, supporting your local food bank is simple.
- You can donate more than just food – Long life food items are always welcome, as are essentials such as sanitary products, nappies and pet food. However, toiletry items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner can really help somebody to feel better about themselves. See below for items of particular need this Christmas!
- Food bank use is the last resort for most people – The decision to visit a food bank can be traumatic, families often experience a large amount of stigma when they choose to. A Child Poverty Action Group report shows that people accepting help from a food bank felt that it was ‘shameful’ and ‘embarrassing.’ That they had been driven to the food bank after exhausting all other avenues of support.
- Poverty can affect more than your finances – Mental and physical health are closely associated with poverty, with more than a quarter of adults in the poorest fifth of the population experiencing depression and anxiety.
- We offer more than food parcels – Whilst we provide emergency food parcels, we also provide vital services for young people facing poverty. We support some of our most disadvantaged, vulnerable and isolated children and young people through positive mentoring, relationships and activities.
How to donate
Our drop off points is at Sainsbury’s on Jockey Lane (next door to Monks Cross Shopping Park; so why not pick something up on your next shop and drop into our collection boxes as you leave. Otherwise, you can drop off directly with us at Shipton Road, but please call-in advance to let us know.
Items of need
- UHT Long-life milk
- Tinned fruit and vegetables
- FREE FROM items for families with allergies and intolerances
- Bread
- Bottles of squash
- Tea and coffee
- Sugar
- Flour
However, you choose to help or donate, supporting our food banks is a straightforward way to positively impact your local community. You could make a real difference by donating some food items or volunteering.
What interested you about becoming an Island Volunteer Mentor? I was interested in volunteering and personal development to enhance my career prospects. I was at a stage where I was confused as to where I wanted to go next but I knew I was good with people, and I knew that my personality would suit working one to one with a young person. I knew that I could pass on good advice and life experience. How long did you mentor for The Island? I mentored for around 15 months. Every week for around 2 hours on a Thursday night. Sometimes we would miss a session due to various factors, but these sessions were caught up on. What did you enjoy most about the Mentoring? I enjoyed being able to experience many different activities with my young person and being able to see their confidence grow. I enjoyed catching up and hearing stories from the week and focusing my attention on that session. Different social settings allowed me to guide my young person and relay stories from my experience which I knew would be helpful. This was enjoyable as I knew I was passing on vital helpful advice for adulthood. Why do you think Mentoring is important for young people? I think in today's world with social media and the stresses on life can be overwhelming for everyone. For a young person to be guided by a mentor, they can step away from that world for a short while and express themselves or let off steam in an environment where they can be nurtured and not judged. With the guidance of a mentor, the young person can take the advice into everyday life which will hopefully help them in difficult and stressful situations. The young person can build up a relationship with the mentor and know that they have trust in them to be able to openly talk about their feelings away from a family, friend it school setting. Please let us know how you have found the support from the island and which aspects you have found the most valuable? I found the support very good and easy to access. I knew that if I needed any support or advice, I could email or call my supervisor. I found the group sessions with other mentors helpful as we could come together and talk about our experience and use any advice in future sessions. Hearing stories from other mentoring experiences was highly valued. Has the Island supported you with any future plans personally or professionally? If so, could you share this with us? The island has kept in touch with me regarding several career opportunities throughout the mentoring process that I have considered. I know that I could sit with the island and discuss any plans if I needed to. Most of all, they have helped my confidence and gave me a platform to express myself and follow my goals which has put me in good stead for next move in my career as a health trainer. The skills and experience I have gained from my mentoring will be transferred over to this next role. At the Island, we are constantly looking for people who have the ability to listen, and who feel that they can develop a positive rapport with children and young people in an honest, challenging and non-judgemental way. All prospective volunteer mentors receive training, support and supervision. This covers such areas as communication, child protection, equal opportunities and often, in the process mentors learn more about themselves, too. To find out more about our volunteer opportunities please click here www.theislandyork.org
The Island works in many ways to support children and their families in York. This article explores the importance of ensuring that all families have the opportunity to go holiday, and how The Island helps people take a break from the pressures of daily life. The Summer Holidays With summer approaching, children and young people will begin to look forward to the holidays. For many, they offer a welcome extended break from school and a chance to make new memories with family and friends. However, for others, they represent a more challenging time. The cost of living crisis has placed the greatest financial pressure on families for a generation. The Office for National Statistics reports that the price of consumer goods has risen ‘at the fastest rate in four decades in the year to October 2022’. Inflation is having the greatest impact on the most vulnerable in our society. The Resolution Foundation found that the lowest income households spend three times more of their family budget on gas and electricity energy bills than the highest. In this context, many parents are having to cut back on holiday plans in order to ensure their children have the essentials that they need. The Family Holiday Charity report that 2.2 million families with dependent children are unable to afford a one week holiday in the UK. This is a startling figure, and one that is expected to rise as the cost of living crisis continues. What does The Island offer families? We believe that every family deserves to spend time together away from the stresses of everyday life. The Island has a holiday property in Bridlington, which offers children the chance to relax and reconnect with their families. In 2019, we helped sixteen families have a week long holiday, and ten families take a weekend break. A parent of a mentee at The Island said that the property provided “a space we can be together, away from the daily grind, and to have a laugh”. They went on to describe their time away as “life-changing”. We’re committed to providing more of these priceless experiences to families in York. How can you support families in York? If you’d like to support us to help more families visit our holiday property by making a donation, please click here . Alternatively, if you’d like to view the current volunteering opportunities at The Island, such as being a mentor, fundraiser, or content writer, click here .
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