NEW trustees have taken over a West Somerset food bank to help forge a sustainable long-term future for the charity.
The news comes just weeks after Moorland Foodbank was faced with closure with its founder and co-ordinator Jenny Barker stepping down and its premises no longer fit for purpose.
But, a public meeting called to ask for support from the community has seen a new board appointed under the chairmanship of Dulverton town Cllr John Preston, a teacher with more than 40 years’ experience, and several new volunteers step forward.
This followed a steering group being put together in October to look at the options for the future of emergency food provision in the Dulverton area.
The group included members of Dulverton Town Council, Somerset Council, Somerset Association of Local Councils, Community Council for Somerset village agents, Citizen Advice, the Moorland Federation of Schools, Magna and LiveWest housing associations, and food bank volunteers.
Cllr Preston said: “This coming together of willing individuals and bodies has enabled progress to happen very quickly.”
The new board achieved Charity Commission registration in a near-record five days, when the process usually takes about eight weeks, and a new website is now under development.
New funding was received from the Somerset Association of Local Councils, the Somerset Community Foundation’s ‘Help Through Winter’ fund, Magna, LiveWest, and from local groups and individuals.
Cllr Preston said: “I feel given the present financial environment we need to support vulnerable families and the elderly who are struggling at this time.
“I am on the town council, manage a hospice charity shop, and this seemed to be a natural progression to get involved with.”
Cllr Preston said everything was still new to the trustees so the full impact of the changes was yet to be seen.
However, he was pleased the short-term future of a valued service was now secure, and the hope was to create a sustainable longer-term future for the charity.
The charity would be making emergency food more accessible to greater numbers of people facing food poverty, as and when they needed it, in communities across southern Exmoor, including Dulverton, Brushford, Skilgate, Upton, Brompton Regis, Exton, Winsford, Exford, Cutcombe, Withypool, and Hawkridge.
New trustee Allison Crisp has also agreed to take on the volunteer co-ordinator role from Jenny Barker on January 1.
Cllr Preston said: “Jenny Barker gave notice that she would be leaving at the end of the year, having done a fantastic job of co-ordinating the team for the past few years.
“We cannot stress enough how brilliant Jenny has been.”
Families with school age children can access Moorland Foodbank food parcels through local schools or village agents who can be contacted on 01823 331222, or via Dulverton Talking Cafe, held in Fishers Mead Community Centre, on Thursdays between 10.30am and 12.30pm.
Food donation points are being increased, and currently include Dulverton’s Co-op store, Winsford and Exford Village Shops.
Anybody who wants to donate, help, or be involved with the food bank can email [email protected].