The cost of living is increasing, it’s no secret, and with wages not keeping pace, there are more people than ever needing support from the wider community. Fuel, energy and food prices have an enormous impact on our day-to-day living. Fortunately, there is help at hand for those who are struggling. 

Foodbanks are working overtime, community food sharing groups are popping up, and funding backed initiatives are being put in place – all working to the greater goal of ensuring nobody goes unfed.

One such organisation is the Churches Housing Action Team (CHAT) who have been working in Mid Devon since 1995 to support anyone at risk of homelessness, and also run the foodbank for the wider Tiverton and Mid Devon area.

“Figures show that the year prior to the pandemic, through our foodbank we provided 5000 days’ worth of food”, explained CHAT fundraising manager, Holly Sutton. “During the pandemic that increased to an astonishing 21,000 days and now following the pandemic it has increased further again to 23,000 days required.”

The CHAT foodbank, based at Coggan’s Well house in Tiverton, is open Monday to Friday from 9.30am – 12.30pm for anyone to drop in and request help. Donation points are available in Tiverton Tesco, Morrisons and Lidl.

Reducing our food waste is another part of the plan to save households money, stave off the threat of food poverty and strengthen communities as a whole. 

Exeter Library have recently launched their community fridge initiative supplying surplus food for free in a highly accessible public location. Thanks to volunteer work, food items that are past their ‘best before’ – meaning they can still be eaten with no harm – and near to ‘use by’ dates are being supplied by donations, including from local supermarkets including Co-op and Waitrose who are on-board.

FoodCycle Exeter goes a step further with their offering, combining surplus food and available kitchen space to create free nutritious complete meals to help change attitudes towards food waste, create community interaction, and of course provide meals for those in need. There’s no need to book, just turn up on a Tuesday evening at 6:30pm at The Mint Methodist Church.

The rise in cost of living is understandably having an impact on donations, so if you’re in a position to support, however small your contribution may be, get in touch with your local organisation and see how you can help. 

Pinpoint Devon lists over 50 foodbanks and associated food support networks across the county. Find your nearest at www.services.pinpointdevon.co.uk