Further funding for emergency food support in Swansea
Swansea Council has announced extra investment into food banks and community projects
Another round of funding has been made available for groups and charities in Swansea providing food support to families and individuals in need.
These include food banks, projects supporting people who are vulnerable or at risk of homelessness, as well as healthy eating, community cooking schemes and community growing to tackle food poverty.
They can now apply for a share of an additional £50,000 day to day funding and £28,000 capital funding
Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Alyson Anthony, said: "This winter we have supported thousands of families and individuals with the costs they are facing.
"More than 1,000 households most in need received vouchers to help with the cost of Christmas, we have supported 56 initiatives to feed school pupils during the Christmas holidays, there were free buses on 14 dates leading up to Christmas and the New Year, a huge programme of free and subsidised activities for young and older people and funding for 60 Swansea Spaces providing warm and welcoming places for residents to attend and socialise.
"Also as part of our Here For You This Winter Campaign, before Christmas we awarded more than £180,000 to more than 100 organisations providing food support to families and individuals to help with the increased demand at this time of year.
"Sadly there are many people and families facing genuine hardship and here in Swansea we are doing all we can to support them locally"
"We have some amazing charities, groups and organisations who work flat out to help ensure people have food on the table."
The closing date for applications is Sunday January 18 and any grant awarded will need to be spent by the end of March 2025.
Swansea Community Farm:
Swansea's Community Farm is serving up workshops this new year to improve cookery skills, encourage healthy eating and bring people aged 50 and over together.
The charity in Fforestfach has recently installed a new kitchen.
The Farm is home to a range of animals, allotments and wildlife areas and exists to improve the wellbeing and skills of volunteers and visitors.
It also provides access to low cost and free food for people who are struggling with the cost of living through its Community Pantry and runs cookery and catering activities for young people.
The farmsuccessfully applied for grants under the council's #HereForYouThisWinter campaign to support free activities for young and older people and to help with the provision of emergency food aid.
Louise Watkins from the farm said: "The grants are helping to support various areas of the farm's work this winter.
"Our Community Pantry is a vital service for local people who are struggling with food poverty, cost of living and economic uncertainty.
"This winter, we will run eight social cooking workshops at the farm for adults aged 50+ to improve wellbeing, reduce isolation, and teach practical cookery skills. Sessions will focus on cooking from scratch, food storage, reducing food waste, and healthy eating. Participants will share a warm meal together, building social connections."