Pan Together — a small local charity which exists to support and provide a community hub for the residents of East Newport — is appealing for help aiding those in need as the cooler months draw closer.
94% of places in England are more affluent than Pan and a shocking 35% of children are growing up in poverty against an England average of 17%.
These statistics are from September 2019 and things have undoubtedly worsened in the wake of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis which is biting so hard for so many.
Sadly, the charity's community support and anti-poverty services are increasingly essential.
Demand is growing and it's greatest from working families and pensioner households.
The Pan Community Larder began in November 2022. It's open every Tuesday and Friday from 12 noon to 2 pm for residents of Pan, Pan Meadows, Barton and Fairlee.
Membership is free and people pay £5 per weekly visit for two carrier bags of fresh, frozen, refrigerated, tinned and dried food and other household essentials which they choose for themselves. No one needs a referral.
To date, there've been an astonishing 2,430 visits to the community larder and 6,420 mouths have been fed. Demand has increased by 142% in just the last four months.
The charity also runs an Island-wide free and confidential money management advice and form-filling service at Downside Community Centre.
It's by appointment only and on a one-to-one basis.
Pan Together is helping and supporting people to claim their entitlements, such as Pension Credit, Personal Independence Payments, Council Tax Relief, Universal Credit, Attendance Allowance and so on.
We're also supporting residents to develop their budgeting skills, source replacements for broken household goods and in making calls to arrange payments to organisations to which they owe money.
In the last 14 months, the charity has supported 286 Island households through this new service, assisting 478 residents.
Tens of thousands of pounds have been raised in terms of backdated payments for Islanders.
Each Wednesday from 9 am to 3 pm, Pan Together runs drop-in sessions for people who are wanting to brush up their skills and/or get help with their CVs and/or are thinking about returning to work after a break.
Since this project began in May 2022, 27 people have been helped to find employment or have returned to learning.
Rachel Thomson, Pan Together's Community Centre Manager, explained:
"No one should have to choose between food, fuel and children's clothes and in many ways it's a damning indictment on society that our support services are needed so much.
"We can't change the world but we can and do make a direct and vital difference in these tough financial times.
"If you're an older person worried about losing your winter fuel allowance, please do get in touch. You may be entitled to pension credit and we can help you fill in the forms.
"If you'd like to support our community larder, rest assured that no matter how large or how small a donation, every tin, bottle, packet, bag and box really does help our charity's ability to help local households with daily essentials.
"We appreciate everyone's support tremendously".
Pan Together can be contacted by telephone on 01983 248170, via email at [email protected], via the website www.pantogether.org.uk or via the Pan Together Facebook page.
Alternatively, pop in to Downside Community Centre, Furrlongs, Newport, PO30 2AX. You'll be made very welcome.
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