Food bank welcomes cash boost from Thames Valley team
14 June 2024
A food bank that helps feed 130 families each month across two West Sussex villages has been given a £3,000 donation from Persimmon Homes.
Thames Valley region awarded the funding to the Lancing and Sompting Churches Food Bank following a successful application to our Community Champions scheme, designed to create a lasting legacy within the areas in which they are building.
The charity works with individuals and families who are struggling with the cost of living crisis, providing food parcels that will feed a family for four days, as well as offering help with energy bills.
They rely heavily on donations from the local community and have collection baskets in supermarkets and health centres, and local businesses and charitable groups also provide vital support.
They run drop-in sessions from the Adur West Family Hub and the Harriet Johnson Centre each week, helping 130 families every month.
Each week they update the shopping list on their website, allowing donors to see what they are most in need of at any particular time.
Knowing they needed more biscuits, Persimmon, who are currently building out the initial phase of its Malthouse Meadows development in Sompting, handed over a variety of packs alongside the cash donation.
Sarah Leeding, Food Bank Coordinator, said:
“The need is widespread and as well as supporting families on benefits and low incomes, we occasionally see professionals such as teachers and nurses who are perhaps struggling to balance the cost of commuting to work with rising energy bills and the growing cost of food.
“We could not do this without the generosity of our supporters and are grateful to Persimmon Homes for this money that will allow us to help so many families in Sompting and Lancing.”
Laura Jackson, Head of Planning at Persimmon Homes Thames Valley, said:
“With the cost of food rising an increasing number of families are struggling to feed, and heat, their homes.
“It is an honour to be able to support a charity that works so hard to ensure those in need have somewhere to turn so they can feed their families and heat their homes during the winter months.”
Persimmon Homes have outline planning permission for 469 much-needed new homes in West Sompting. Work is already underway on the first 96 homes, with sales launching this month. An application for Phase 2 is due to be submitted to Adur District Council later this summer, which will seek to provide a further 91 homes as well as a beautiful community orchard. Phase 3 will follow later in 2025/2026 and will deliver the remaining 282 homes along with further public open space.
Charities, voluntary organisations and schools can find out more about applying for a Community Champions grant here.