Somer Valley Foodbank named as Official Partner for Peasedown festival

Somer Valley Foodbank named as Official Partner for Peasedown festival

Wednesday 25th April 2018 Published by Leave your thoughts

A social welfare project that has fed over 7,000 people across the Somer Valley has been named as the Official Partner for this year’s Peasedown Party in the festival.

The Somer Valley Foodbank, set up in 2013, provides three days of emergency food to people who need it the most. Professionals such as health visitors, social workers and Citizens’ Advice identify people in crisis and issue them with a Foodbank voucher.

The voucher can be taken to a Foodbank distribution centre where a friendly team of volunteers will offer a cup of tea and help people with their food needs.

With more than 100 volunteers collecting and transporting food, helping in distribution centres, and providing support to those who visit, the Somer Valley Foodbank is one of the biggest volunteer-led projects in Bath and North East Somerset.

To mark the 5th anniversary of the Foodbank this year, and the 10th Anniversary of Peasedown Party in the Park, the two organisations have teamed up.

Nathan Hartley, Chairman of Peasedown Party in the Park said: “The Somer Valley Foodbank has done fantastic work over the years to help those who need it the most. A total of 7,267 food parcels have been given out to people living in Peasedown St John, Radstock, Midsomer Norton, Paulton and the surrounding villages. That’s a lot of people who couldn’t put food on the table and who would have starved otherwise! We’re delighted that the Somer Valley Foodbank has accepted our invitation to be our Official Partner for our 10th event. It make’s this year’s festival even more special.”

Several tonnes of food are distributed every year at local Distribution Centres, with regular collections at schools, churches, business places and community events. With running costs of £9,000 per annum, the Foodbank needs regular donations and support to keep the project going.

Somer Valley Foodbank Chairman, Paul Woodward added: “We still hear of people going hungry who do not know how to get a Foodbank voucher. People finding themselves in food crisis should approach a professional agency such as Citizen’s Advice, Children’s Services, Health Visitor and District Nursing Teams to name a few. Several B&NES services, Curo Housing, Sirona and some schools hold our vouchers. These professionals will also help people to find the long-term help and support they need to get through their crisis. All sorts of people find themselves in food crisis, whether it’s because of changes in Universal Credit, redundancy, debt, or even ill health. If you have a referral, we’ll feed you!”

Want to find out more about the Somer Valley Foodbank? Come along to Party in the Park on Saturday 9th June on Beacon Field Peasedown St John, 12noon – 7pm.

For more details follow the event on Twitter: @peasedown_party, or go to ‘Peasedown Party in the Park’ on Facebook.