MORE families in the town are struggling to put food on the table during the pandemic.

The impact of three lockdowns has hit Swindonians hard, with the Office for National Statistics revealing the number of people claiming unemployment benefits in December was double that seen in March.

Swindon Night Shelter is one of the organisations trying to fill the gap – and say it is those who find themselves out of work for the first time that are facing the biggest struggle, particularly with half-term on the horizon.

“At the moment there is a real issue around food insecurity,” said Dawn Prosser, catering manager with the Night Shelter. 

“Particularly for low-income working families. So the ones who don’t have stable full-time jobs – they might be on zero hours contracts but don’t have any paid hours at the moment, or the ones where one or both parents have lost their jobs recently because of the pandemic.

“The people struggling are the ones who are starting Universal Credit for the first time, and they have to wait five weeks before the first payment. If they haven’t got any money coming in, then that’s a long time to try make ends meet. 

“There’s a real issue there that we’re trying to help fill the gap for."
Families finding it tough are being given support by a new food handout service, which replicates one that already runs in Penhill.

Goddard Park Foodshare launched this week and means anyone from east Swindon in need can turn up on a Wednesday and pick up a weekly food parcel. 

Based at Goddard Park Community Primary School, organisers hope the partnership between the school, Swindon Night Shelter and volunteers from Satellite Old Town Rotary Club, will help alleviate food poverty in the town. 

The Night Shelter started a similar food handout in Penhill before Christmas, which feeds an average of 60 people each Friday.

The initiative will serve families across east Swindon including from Eldene, Liden, Dorcan, Parks and Walcot. 

“We’re anticipating having a lot more people come than in Penhill,” said Dawn. 
Unlike with other food handout schemes, those wanting to come don’t need a referral in order to access the service. 

“If you are struggling or in difficult circumstances and are finding it hard to get food just turn up, come along, and bring some strong bags,” said Dawn. 

Goddard Park Primary headteacher Mike Welsh added: “All schools have vulnerable families who are finding the lockdown with its employment and health difficulties placing significant additional pressures on providing food for their families. 

“We see our role throughout the pandemic as reaching out to those families particularly in the south east of Swindon. Children need quality provision whether with food, education, or engagement with others.”

As well as tins and packet foodstuff there will also be a range fresh food available.

“Whatever we’ve got we will share with you,” said Dawn

“The plan is that we’ll also provide this over the February half-term as well, because obviously food security then is an issue at the moment because the government hasn’t said if they will support school meals over the half-term. 

“But we will run this so that there will still be something in the area for families in difficulties,“ she added. 

The Night Shelter had previously run the Gate Café from the school, which offered a cooked breakfast for families as well as some surplus food provision but had to stop because of the pandemic.

“We can’t run the café but we are back with the surplus food in the form of a food parcel,” said Dawn.

Mr Welsh added: “We are delighted to be working closely with our partners in the Satellite Rotary Club and Swindon Night Shelter. 

“Staff have been brilliant and with our partners are doing an excellent job with the new Goddard Park Foodshare. I am very proud of them.”

“We’d love to have a food parcel service in every area of Swindon, so there is somewhere people can go every day if they need," said Dawn.

“At the moment it’s just Penhill and Parks but we’ll extend it as necessary depending on the amount of food we have,” she added. 

The food handout will be on Wednesdays from 3-4.30pm at the Hippo Room in Goddard Park School, Welcombe Avenue.