'Help is here, Hope is here': Coleraine charity launches campaign to tackle Cost of Living Crisis

A North-Coast anti-poverty charity is aiming to do their bit to support low income families during the Cost of Living crisis

Vineyard Compassion from Coleraine has launched their 'Help is here, Hope is here' campaign.

Local Independent MLA, Claire Sugden says, “at least once a week a constituent will cry in my office. They are broken by a broken system”. The MLA made these comments in her address at the campaign launch of a local charity response to the Cost of Living crisis.

The campaign has been designed to raise awareness of the anti-poverty charity, Vineyard Compassion and all their services, and to send a message to the local community that help is available for anyone struggling to make ends meets because of rising living costs.

Representatives from the Education Authority, Causeway Coast and Glens Council, Support Hub PSNI, Housing Executive, local charities, and schools listened as Vineyard Compassion CEO, Ricky Wright outlined how rising costs are impacting the most vulnerable in our local community, particularly our children. With research from Save the Children showing that 25% of children aged 0-15 in The Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council are living in poverty. That’s 1 in 4 of our kids and is higher than any other borough in NI.

Attendees at the launch event were given a tour of the Vineyard Compassion site to see the wide range of work going on there every day, including emergency services like the Trussell Trust Foodbank, clothes bank and the Mobile Open Door van that takes emergency food supplies out into the community. Staff and volunteers spoke passionately about other long term support services like the Reset Social Supermarket which gives members the opportunity to shop for food at a reduced cost for 6 months. Provisions Coordinator, Melanie Gibson explained, “through our social supermarket we journey with people as they access lower cost food and take control of their finances.”

Ricky took the opportunity to highlight the importance of a collaborative and strategic approach to tackling poverty and social need in this local area. Ricky thanked the agencies and charities represented for all the work that they do with Vineyard Compassion.

“All of you are here today because we recognise that Vineyard Compassion is a small cog in a much larger wheel. We really value the relationships that have been established and the partnerships that have been built across the community, voluntary and statutory sector. It’s clear to see the passion, determination and collective will to support the most vulnerable and see this community transformed and thriving.”

“The most important message from the campaign launch is that no one in our local community should go hungry this winter or feel alone if they are struggling because help is here.”