Bath-headquartered housing association and developer Curo has launched its latest foodbank as it seeks to help hard-to-reach communities amid the cost of living crisis.
Supported by UK food poverty charity Fareshare, Curo building materials supplier Travis Perkins and local supermarkets, The Pantry in Midsomer Norton is open to all Curo customers – from young carers to families and older people – who will be able to get a few bags of food shopping for £3.
Curo, one of the largest housing associations in the South West, has a portfolio of 13,000 homes and builds hundreds of new properties a year.
It is best known in Bath for its flagship 700-home Mulberry Park development on former MoD land on the city’s outskirts.
The firm, which has partnered on a number of foodbank projects, recently welcomed people from the local community to the launch of The Pantry, including Samantha Farnen, pictured, a Curo resident and mother of four young boys.
She said the foodbank is a great benefit for the local community.
“The school holidays can put a real strain on families’ finances. You need money for childcare, food and entertaining the kids, “ she added.
“It’s a big issue. The Pantry is a backstop if people don’t have food in their cupboards.”
Another Curo resident, Caroline Laver, said: “The Pantry is bringing the local community together after Covid.
“Lots of older people in this area feel isolated in their homes. We’ve lost two bus routes and elderly people can struggle to do their shopping. This is a way to help them access food, as well as getting them back together socially.”
Curo’s customer accounts team will also be on location at The Pantry to offer money and benefits advice, helping people struggling with rising costs to access on-the-spot help.
Regional accounts manager Emma Newman, who organised the project, added: “I’ve been working on The Pantry project for several years so I’m very excited to finally launch it.
“The idea was sparked when we realised how hard it is for some of our customers in rural areas to access help. We wanted to bring support to their doorsteps.
“As well as offering supplies to restock their kitchen cupboards, Curo colleagues will be on hand at The Pantry to offer practical advice on money matters.”
Travis Perkins account manager Martyn Piper said The Pantry had a dual function.
“Many people are suffering from food poverty because of rising costs and it will help to ease that. But there’s also the social aspect,” he added.
“I met a gentleman who told me he hadn’t seen another person for weeks. The Pantry is helping to bring young and older people together as a community.”
The Pantry will be open at Curo’s Community Room in Welton Vale, Midsomer Norton, between 10am and 2pm every Tuesday.
