Interactive food map shows emergency support across Cornwall over Christmas
Foodbanks are expecting to dish out thousands of extra meals
Communities across Cornwall are being supported to ensure no one goes hungry this Christmas.
A new interactive map has been launched showing all emergency food support in towns and villages throughout the Duchy where residents in need can access food during the festive period.
You can find the Help with Food map online at Let's Talk Cornwall here.
The initiative is part of Cornwall Council's crisis help package this winter, which includes mounting a food voucher scheme for more than 14,300 schoolchildren and college students, giving cash injections to voluntary food organisations through its Emergency Food Assistance Fund and offering free advice to residents on debt relief, benefits support and keeping warm and well.
The latest feedback from foodbanks and community crisis groups in Cornwall shows a sharp increase in demand in the lead-up to Christmas - higher than in previous years.
For many people it is the first time they have needed to access their community food banks for help.
“We know that during the pandemic people who have never had to ask for help before are finding themselves in a position where they need support. We want to let anyone in this position know that help is at hand, and please don’t be afraid to ask for assistance.
“We have been working hard with community organisations to develop our Help with Food map and the energy and passion from everyone has been outstanding.
“We want to thank all the voluntary groups, foodbanks and many volunteers who are helping residents with accessing food, as well as to everyone who has donated food to our community food banks.”
Edwina Hannaford, Cornwall’s Portfolio Holder for climate change and neighbourhoods
Healthy Start Scheme
Parents across Cornwall are also being reminded to check if they are eligible for the Healthy Start scheme.
With Healthy Start, families receive free vouchers every week to spend on milk, fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables, fresh, dried, and tinned pulses, and infant formula milk. Children can also get free vitamins.
“The number of families eligible for Healthy Start vouchers has increased by approximately 30% through the pandemic but take up of the scheme in Cornwall does not yet reflect that, with about half of eligible families currently claiming the voucher for fruit and veg and just 2% of those that are eligible collecting the vitamins.
“We encourage parents to check if they are eligible for the Healthy Start scheme.”
Sally Hawken, Portfolio Holder for children, wellbeing and public health
Families who need to know more information can discover more by discussing with their midwife, health visitor, local family hub or online here.
How to get help:
Cornwall Council provides a wide range of support and advice on food help, winter fuel, debt management and housing costs on its website.
The Help with Food page on the Cornwall Council website includes information on supermarket deliveries if you are elderly or vulnerable, how to contact volunteers for help with shopping, how to pay for food and accessing money if you have to stay at home, and help for families eligible for food vouchers. If you need assistance please visit Do you need a helping hand? - Cornwall Council.
Volunteer Cornwall has 3,600 volunteers throughout Cornwall who can help with access to food, signposting to debt advice, general health and wellbeing support and information local activity and social groups. Please email requestforhelp@volunteercornwall.org.uk or phone 01872 266988.
Other crisis help is available on the council website by going here for benefits support, council tax support and debt advice, and for winter wellbeing here.
You can also get in touch with Cornwall Council on 0300 1231118 or email covid19@cornwall.gov.uk.
Community support groups which are not featured on the Help with Food map but would like to be can also get in touch on the same email and phone number.