As part of Swansea Council’s #HereForYouThisWinter campaign, 56 organisations have successfully applied for the Holiday Food Fund that will this year see some offering free food to school-aged children who need it during the October half-term, as well as the Christmas and February breaks.
Ninety-four clubs and groups putting on free or low-cost activities for children and young people have been offered funding, along with a further 55 working with older adults.
The council is also supporting 62 Swansea Spaces to offer warm and welcoming places for people to meet, socialise and take part in activities if they wish.
Grants have also been offered to 48 organisations who provide emergency food support such as food banks, cooking schemes and community cafes.
Among the more than 300 successful applications was Glais Community Centre which will run a Swansea Space this winter, provide food to pupils during the holidays as well as to families and individuals that need it via its foodbank and hold a Christmas Party to bring older people in the community together.
Eleanore Williams, Chair of Glais Community Centre, said:
“A lot of people who come here are lonely. Ladies have told us it’s the only time they mix with other people – and some even get taxis here from other communities. As well as a variety of activities at the centre, we run trips as well. The centre is used every day of the week.”
Pat Griffiths regularly attends the Community Centre for events and activities said:
“The activities at the community centre are very important because there are a lot of older ladies on their own in this area, so this gives everyone a great social outlet. We also get lots of young people coming along too – sometimes people’s grandchildren. It’s a lovely atmosphere.
“We never go home from the community centre without having a laugh. There’s never a sad face and we very much look forward to seeing one-another every week.”
Swansea Council Leader Rob Stewart said:
“This winter we are again doing all we can to ensure that no one goes hungry and that there are places for people to go in communities across Swansea to socialise to reduce loneliness and exclusion.
“There will also be lots of free and low cost events and activities for young and older people.
“In addition to these grants there will be targeted help for families and individuals via the councillor voucher scheme and we are again running free bus travel on certain dates in the run-up to Christmas and New year holiday periods, supporting businesses and saving families of four up to £20 per day in travel costs.”
Council Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Alyson Anthony, said:
“This funding makes a very real difference to thousands of people.
“In the last year alone, around 100,000 meals were provided to pupils who may otherwise have gone without during the winter and summer holidays. This is in addition to direct funding for food banks and other emergency food providers.
“We will also be continuing to work hand in hand with the Cwtch Mawr Multibank, which has provided close to a million new essential household items and clothing to people in the region since it launched last year.
Council Cabinet Member for Community Support, Hayley Gwilliam, added:
“We will again be supporting the network of Swansea Spaces, with more than 60 people being offered funding this winter to provide inclusive and welcoming spaces for people to socialise.
“By providing funding to our many partners we are maximising every bit of support we can provide to help people in communities across Swansea this winter.”
