More using food service as unemployment figures rise

THE Open Westbury Food Project has reported a rise in the number of people recently made redundant, needing support from the service.

The project, which delivered over 600 boxes of essential food items to residents in need during the height of the lockdown period, says that they expect this need to increase further as more people who are currently furloughed, are made redundant.

Speaking to White Horse News, Westbury Town Council’s events manager, Ryan Child said, “Currently we are sending out between 35 to 40 boxes of food a week. But we are starting to see a huge uplift in demand, and we are expecting this to increase.

“We are receiving more and more requests from people who are reaching the end of their furlough period and are being made redundant. And these requests are coming from residents and families that are contacting us for the first time. Whilst our service has seen a drop in the number of isolated people needing support, there has been an increase in the number of people that can’t afford food.”

To cope with the expected increase in demand, the Open Westbury Food Project is moving its base to local charity Crosspoint, who will become the collection, packing and distribution centre for the project.

Ryan said, “The aim of the Open Westbury Food Project is to create a programme that truly serves the community in a number of ways – by using surplus food and preventing it from going to waste; and helping people that might need food – but not just send them a box of food, but explore with them what their needs are. Do they need help with benefits, counselling? It’s a more holistic approach to supporting those in need in the community.

“A number of community groups – the town council, churches, local surgeries, volunteers, Wiltshire Council, the Lions, Rotary Club, Crosspoint – are all working hard together to make sure the community is served properly.”

For more information about the Open Westbury Food Project, contact  Crosspoint Connect on 01373 865557 – Mondays and Fridays between 2-4pm and Wednesdays 10-12pm.