Supporting the community through a very difficult year

St. Germain’s Church and the Emergency Supplies Grant

This is our second blog post highlighting the impact of the Emergency Assistance Grant which is being distributed by the Edgbaston Neighbourhood Network Scheme and the Heart of England Community Foundation.

Last time, we looked at how Home from Hospital Care helped ‘Brian’ by sending him free tailored food parcels.

This week, it’s the turn of St. Germain’s church who are using the money to run their community ‘Food Hub’.

St. Germain’s Community Food Hub

The church’s Food Hub uses donations to provide fresh meals and food parcels for people in Edgbaston. Each week, volunteers collect clothing and enough food for 300 meals. An Emergency Assistance Grant has allowed St Germain’s to pay their expenses.

With more money, the Food Hub have also been able to run a debt and benefits advice service, which Les Allan, St. Germain’s Operations Manager, says has been able to ‘lift the whole person up’.

Les applied for the grant in January 2021 describing the process as ‘straight forward’- adding that he loved the fact you can save your progress as you go!

He also praised Edgbaston Neighbourhood Network Scheme’s support, whose community connectors met with him over Zoom to offer hints and tips on how to focus his application.

‘The funding came just in the nick of time’, Les said, highlighting that the quick turn around between the application and receiving the money allowed St. Germain’s to keep the service running.

Les explained the impact it has, mentioning Nadia (not her real name), who had been using the Hub since the summer to feed both herself and her son who was not very well. The Food Hub has done a 360, Les explained, where Nadia is now back on her feet and even volunteering in the kitchen.

It has ‘been a very difficult year for our community’ Les noted, ‘but, thanks to this funding, our service will be able to continue supporting them.’

Funding is still available for groups and projects similar to St. Germain’s and Home from Hospital Care’s. If you are interested, get in touch with Marc Baggott at M.Baggott@gatewayfs.org to find out more. Deadline for applications is 23/4/21 (noon).