Emergency £30k as local food banks struggle against demand

Wednesday 05 October 2022

Jersey food banks have been given £30,000 in emergency funding as they struggle against what has been described as “unprecedented” need.

Salvation Army, Grace Trust and St. Vincent De Paul, which are all operating at capacity in the current cost of living crisis, have been given grants of £10,000 each, facilitated by the Jersey Community Foundation.

The grants are expected to be spent on emergency food supplies, hygiene packs, baby products, and electricity vouchers, as well as urgent “one-off costs” and special projects.

One such project is the Grace Trust’s weekly Saturday lunch, which is held at St. Paul’s Church.

Pictured: A hygiene pack offered by the St. Vincent de Paul bank.

“This grant will see our longest running project continue to provide a two-course meal for those in need and for those feeling lonely or isolated within our community,” explained Vini Jones.

“We worked with the Jersey Community Foundation to identify this area of need and we are delighted to channel the grant towards this project - it is probably the biggest grant we’ve ever received for this weekly lunch that brings our community together.” 

The three £10,000 top-ups to help charities support islanders through the cost of living crisis comes in addition to £15,000 provided to Community Savings over the summer.

The Jersey Community Foundation is a charity that works in partnership with potential donors to make sure that their giving goes to the causes in the areas they care about most.

The latest round of funding was from the Ann Alice Rayner Fund, which was set up to provide “pecuniary relief to needy persons residing in Jersey”.

It was created by Alice Blason (née Colclough), who was the wife of Charles Henry Blason and widow of John Edward Rayner, late Lord Mayor of Liverpool.

In her will, she gifted what was left of her personal estate to the public for the creation of a philanthropic fund.

“At JCF we work in partnership with organisations that have specialist knowledge and experience within the community to ensure that funding is spent wisely and consciously,” explained JCF CEO Anna Terry. 

“We have no doubt that each of these worthy recipients will see the funds allocated where they are needed most.” 

The next closing date for The Ann Alice Rayner Fund is Sunday 20th November 2022. The JCF notes that funding criteria is in place, but encourages enquiries to scope out projects for possible funding with its grants team.