A CHARITY in Warrington that supports people in vulnerable situations – including those who are isolated and homeless at Christmas – has received almost £9,000 of National Lottery funding.
Warrington Open Door at Christmas has received the funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK, to overhaul its kitchen facilities and increase the number of hot meals and food parcels it can provide.
It is one of over 530 charities and community groups across Cheshire to have been awarded more than £7.6 million of National Lottery funding over the last year*.
Responding to a rise in homelessness in the area, Warrington Open Door at Christmas was set up in 1991 to offer hot meals to those in need over the Christmas period. It has since grown to include a second-hand clothes shop, a hairdresser, bingo sessions, a wellbeing worker, and classes on everything from painting to flower arranging at its base in St. Johns United Reform Church hall.
Last year saw the charity serve over 450 hot meals, deliver over 150 food parcels, and transport over 200 people to and from the church hall. It now plans to send out over 200 food parcels this Christmas and expects a similar increased demand for its wider services, as people continue to struggle with the cost-of-living.
Research from the Trussel Trust shows that one in seven people face hunger across the UK because they simply don’t have enough money to make ends meet, while 14% of all adults experienced food insecurity in the 12 months to mid-2022.
Mike Ruck, Treasurer at Warrington Open Door at Christmas, said: “Food poverty is a big issue in Warrington, with the distance between the wealthy and the poor ever increasing. The main driver recently has been the cost-of-living crisis caused by the rapid increase in inflation and the effects this has had on people’s mortgages, rent bills and the general increase in the price of everyday items.
“In a world where people are having to make difficult decisions about their everyday finances, we feel that services like ours are vital as they allow those in need to take the smallest of breaks from their troubles and stresses, and feel safe and reassured that food, warmth and companionship are free and accessible.”
The local community project is led by a small committee and each year works with over 100 volunteers over the festive season, all of whom give their time freely, and many of whom are in vulnerable situations themselves, but are dedicated to making a difference to their community.
Mike added: “Life is stressful enough and Christmas only compounds that, so we do what we can, when we can, for who we can, in the hope that it makes their Christmas a little better.
“On behalf of our volunteers and guests, we would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to The National Lottery Community Fund and National Lottery players for their support, without which much of our work wouldn’t be possible.”
Cheshire isn’t alone in benefiting from National Lottery funding. Today it was announced that almost £580 million has been distributed to over 11,500 community organisations across England in the past year*.
The funding announcement follows recent news that The National Lottery Community Fund has doubled the amount and duration of grants grassroots communities can apply for through its flagship funding programme, National Lottery Awards for All.
With a new maximum award of £20,000 and two-year grant term, this significant change supports the funder’s ambition to invest most in places, people and communities experiencing poverty, disadvantage, and discrimination. Read their strategy, ‘It starts with community’, to find out more.
Gillian Halliwell, Head of Funding for the North West at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “The run up to Christmas really puts the issue of food poverty and homelessness into perspective, which is why we’re proud to support organisations like Warrington Open Door at Christmas, which give those struggling at this time of year a much needed moment of reprieve.
“Thanks to National Lottery players and the hard work and dedication of local groups like these, our funding is helping to strengthen society and improve lives across Cheshire and the wider UK.”
National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. Thanks to them, last year The National Lottery Community Fund was able to distribute over half a billion pounds (£615.4 million) of life-changing funding to communities.
To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk
