A Winter Community Support Programme between Christmas and New Year will be available for people struggling to access food, writes Rachel Marshall…
Over the festive season everyone should have access to food and the chance to share a warm meal with others in their community.
However, it’s also a chance for the amazing people who run food support services and community meals throughout the year to take a well-deserved break.
Some organisations do operate over the holiday period, such as Stanleys who served a Christmas Day meal to over 100 people last year and Melbourne Food Club who handed out food provided by the Sultan Experience for homeless families in hotels and people living on the streets.
However, there are fewer options for people looking for support with food between Christmas and New Year’s day.
Last year, many of our food clubs reported a sharp rise in families struggling to access food, particularly around Christmas Day.
In response to this, Lancaster District Food Justice Partnership (LDFJP) is taking a collaborative approach to develop a Winter Community Support Programme.
This coordinated effort will offer extra food clubs, community meals, and access to warm spaces – especially crucial during the winter period when financial pressures and social isolation peak.
Between Christmas and New Year there will be two free community meals hosted in community centres in Morecambe and Lancaster.
The day before each community meal there will be a pop-up food club at the venue which is open to anyone struggling to access food.
Where possible, any surplus food remaining after the food club will be used in the community meal the following day.
In addition The Babar Elephant and The Sultan Experience are both providing 100 meals to Stanley’s. These will be in takeaway tubs for people to take home.
The partnership is also developing a list of warm spaces and community meals available across Lancaster District throughout the winter period.
The hope is that in years to come there is a full programme of events throughout December and January offering people the chance to connect with others, share food and keep warm in the dark winter months.
If your community centre, religious centre, or community group is planning a meal during this time and you’re willing to open it up to the wider community please get in touch via the link below.
There will be a pop up food club in Lancaster on December 29, serving 1-4pm, followed by a community meal on December 30, serving from 1pm.
There will also be a pop up food club in Morecambe on December 30, serving 1-4pm, followed by a community meal on December 31, serving from 1pm.
Find out more about the winter support programme HERE.
Volunteer to help at a community meal HERE.
