Lymington and New Forest Basics Bank
Lymington and New Forest Basics Bank exists to help and support individuals in need by providing emergency food.
Please call us or drop in to our NEW site;
NEW FOREST BASICS BANK,
Lymington URC,
High Street,
Lymington,
SO41 9AG.
Telephone 01590 610008
Current Opening Times: Tuesday, Wednesday & Fridays 10am to 12noon.
Location: At the rear of the new Church/Community Hall in a separate building (see signs).
Since obtaining planning permission for the new building we have received generous and much appreciated donations from the following who have supported and contributed to the New Forest Basics Bank distribution centre. Our fund raising target for the new building was £25,000.00 and here are our the funders who helped us;
The donations and grants came in - and Basics Bank has their own "home"! Thank you to..............................
Here are some Basics Bank facts from the 1st September 2004 to the 31st August 2009 (Basics Bank 5th Year in operation), it has;
l Distributed over 2390 food parcels!
l Helped to feed over 5034 people/families which includes over 2350 children!
l Covered an area from Fawley to Highcliffe extending up to Ringwood/Fordingbridge!
l Developed and is continuously working with 61 Approved Referral Agencies and processing over 2228 referrals!
l Opportunities for over 40 volunteers including delivery drivers!
Desmond Swayne MP joined some Basics Bank volunteers recently in distributing food parcels to those local New Forest residents who needed the Bank's support! He was updated on the building funds, how Basics Bank works, why it exists and the social service it provides to the local community. The MP viewed the drawings of the new Basics Bank distribution centre which will be located at the recently refurbished Lymington URC and the Church's new community hall where the Open Door Project will operate. His visit included time on site to see the progress on the newly refurbished URC plus the facilities the church/community hall will offer to all.
....and a visit from a chairman.
Cllr Paul Woods, the current Chairman of the New Forest District Council, took time from his busy schedule to visit and support the New Forest Basics Bank who provide emergency food and support to those in need in the New Forest area. A presentation was given about the plans for the new Basics Bank Distribution Centre. Cllr Woods was updated on the current fund raising efforts to reach the £25,000 target needed to build the centre at the Lymington URC Open Door Project site which will give a totally integrated community project centrally located on one site.
Basics Bank originated in Southampton as a charity within SCRATCH (Southampton City & Region to Combat Hardship.) Until late 2004 the New Forest was covered from New Milton as a delivery only service. It changed on the 1st September 2004 to Lymington & New Forest Basics Bank when Churches Together in Lymington District (CTLD) took management of the service as a social action and outreach project. So...........How does it work?
Lymington URC is now the operation centre.
It is managed, co-coordinated and manned entirely by volunteers with a Steering Group Committee that meets on a regular basis. Clients requiring such help may be identified by any of the registered referral bodies including, for example, Social Services, Citizens Advice Bureau, local Housing Associations, Job Centres, Drugs and Alcohol Advisory Services and Women's Refuges. These bodies may give food vouchers to those in need, and the individuals concerned can exchange these at the Basics Bank for food parcels. All donations are checked and stored by a team of volunteers working at the Basics Bank who also make up the food parcels and either hand them to the clients directly or have the goods delivered to them.
Food is donated on a regular basis through churches and on special occasions by local schools. The most significant giving is at Harvest Time and Christmas.
Why is there the need for Basics Bank?
Clients come to the Basic Bank for many reasons. In some cases a benefits payment may be delayed, or more serious circumstances have occurred. A number of designated and approved Referral Agencies determine the circumstances and needs of their clients and issue Basics Bank vouchers, these can be exchanged to receive food from us for each individual or family. Basics Bank will help clients with three (3) food parcels in one year. In the circumstance that a client returns to the basics bank after the third parcel, Basics Bank will contact the relevant Referral Agency to discuss the situation. Each case is handled respectfully, confidentially and on an individual basis.
If the need is identified, what is provided?
Food is supplied in carrier bags, sufficient for 1-5 days subject to availability and authorized by the Referral Agencies. Provisions typically include - New Forest Basics Bank distribution centre sited immediately behind the Lymington United Reformed Church. If you could help in any way from donating a few items, help on stock checks or make up bags or even assist in deliveries please contact us.
