Press Release
Local Charities start new Cost of Living support service in Slough
Citizens Advice workers will be based at Slough Foodbank Distribution Centres in a new, long-term initiative funded by Trussell Trust to help Slough residents.
Two local charities are joining forces in Slough to further help people in crisis. Slough Foodbank and Citizens Advice East Berkshire have been given long-term funding from the Trussell Trust to work in partnership to help Slough residents facing hardship. The funding will pay for Citizens Advice workers to be based at the Foodbank’s Distribution Centres which are open 6 days a week in 5 different locations. They will support people in financial hardship. Many people who find themselves in food poverty crisis and needing to come to a foodbank have underlying issues relating to benefits, debt, low income, discrimination at work, housing, homelessness or ill health. Having trained advisors dedicated to focusing on helping in these areas will be of enormous benefit by offering debt and benefit advice.
Laura Cole, Slough Foodbank Manager said:
“In 2022, Slough Foodbank helped over 9,000 people with 3-day food and basic toiletry parcels, a 27% rise since 2021. In addition to providing food, we try, by means of signposting and monitoring and discussions with the supporting referrer to give a helping hand through a crisis. We are hopeful that this new partnership with skilled advisors will really make a difference in helping people to overcome their crisis and find a way to a better future where they can afford more than the essentials. With this new service we will be helping more people to get help that will mean a future where they no longer need us.”
Jeremy Sandell, CEO of Citizens Advice East Berkshire said:
“Since we started our Slough service in November 2021 we have helped Slough residents gain almost £500,000 of finacial support. Working more closely with Slough Foodbank will mean that we are there when people need us the most.”
Both organisations are grateful to the Trussell Trust for the financial support needed to make this happen.
For further information contact Jeremy Sandell jeremy.s@caeb.org.uk or Laura Cole manager@slough.foodbank.org.uk