Grove Park School Families Praised for Supporting Local Foodbank

Their backing along with that of Watermans vital to Hounslow FoodBox

The work of families at a local primary school in supporting Hounslow Community FoodBox has been praised. Along with the Watermans in Brentford they have been playing a key role in supporting the work of the charity. This comes at a time when the food bank has issued an appeal for more donations in the run up to Christmas.

Watermans have offered families who are receiving support from FoodBox and other support services 100 free theatre tickets to The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.

Joanna Lovatt, Parent Support Advisor at Grove Park Primary School has identified 45 young people who without this opportunity would not be able to enjoy this trip to the theatre. FoodBox has had fantastic harvest festival donations over the years from the school and has seen the great work they do at the school supporting pupils and families. Grove Park refer to FoodBox those families that need a little extra support and the care and kindness they offer is so important.

Joanna said "Grove Park Primary School families have been using the Hounslow Foodbox for several years. They have provided so much more than just food and provisions for our needy families. They have provided invaluable support by listening - such an underrated skill and missing from far too many people's lives. The incredible patience that their volunteers provide in taking time to ask questions, without judgement, so that they can provide further assistance if they can, is just as important. Their empathy is truly outstanding and they really do go above and beyond.

"It is a service that runs for many more hours and days than some other Food Banks are able to provide, plus they have expanded their offerings to include some frozen and fresh produce as well.

"In such a wonderfully diverse borough such as Hounslow, it's very easy to dismiss Chiswick residents as requiring little help. However, having been associated with this school for over 20 years, I can assure you that we have all the same problems and issues as other deeply deprived areas, just not in the same volume. Which makes it much harder to reach those in need as they feel so much more isolated and therefore, far less willing to ask for help. That's why Hounslow FoodBox is such an outstanding organisation.

A spokesman from Watermans said “Watermans is passionate about inspiring children and young people through the arts: we know that the arts exposes children to new ideas and cultures, builds their confidence and stimulates their creative thinking. We want all children to have this opportunity, and for families to enjoy the arts together regardless of means.

"So we're really delighted to be working with Hounslow Food Bank to find families in need, to give them free tickets to our Christmas show this year. If this trial is a success, we hope to expand it next year."

On average ten people a week from the relatively affluent area of Chiswick are referred by the Citizens Advice Bureau to theFoodbox in Brentford. Given the limited opening hours of the CAB, this is surprisingly high. The Foodbox staff and Ruth Cadbury MP have put out a desperate appeal for more food donations and Christmas presents. These can be dropped off at the CAB, behind the Town Hall, every weekday morning.

FoodBox sees young people coming from a number of interesting projects supporting young people. Louisa Noel, a volunteer with Foodbox, has been giving tickets to those who attend special classes at the library and have disabilities. She said "It is great that we have been given this generous opportunity to offer the community which is also engaging young people with local services.

FoodBox operates on a voucher system, with recipients being given a voucher by one of FoodBox’s referral partners. Recipients can then exchange this voucher for a food package.

FoodBox’s referral partners are professionals or volunteers working in the community such as children’s centres, Citizens Advice Bureau, GPs, housing associations, Jobcentre Plus and London Borough of Hounslow Housing Strategy and Solutions, and Adult Social Care and Children’s Services.

Referral partners complete a FoodBox voucher form for the recipient, emailing it to FoodBox and giving a copy to the recipient.

Food packages contain non-perishable essentials such as pasta, rice and tinned food. The food package should last the recipient and their household around three days.

December 1, 2017