New lifeline for families in crisis as new food bank and baby bank open

Over lockdown, The Airedale Neighbourhood Management Board, who are a longstanding community group, has overseen the setting up of a new food bank and a baby bank in Airedale, to be managed by a subcommittee.

After realising how many people were in crisis during the pandemic, the foodbank have sworn to assist those who are in dire need of food and baby goods, as a result of loss of work, benefit changes, delays in wage payments or having to self-isolate.

The foodbank and the baby bank rely heavily on donations from businesses and the general public and are calling out for donations of canned food, tea, coffee, toiletries, nappies, prams, pushchairs, children’s bedding, baby bottles, sterilisers and formula milk.

Coun Kathryn Scott, one of the Ferry Fryston District Councillors, is undertaking a bulk of the work.

She said: “Initially in March, myself, Coun Les Shaw and Mike Dixon, Chair of Airedale Neighbourhood Management Board and Chrysalis Youth and Community Project were asked to attend a meeting in Townville Club.

“We invited members of the community who wanted to help those in need due to the pandemic.

“It was a brilliant meeting, with so many kind and caring individuals from the community, it was agreed by Mike Dixon and Chrysalis CX Neil Kennedy to let us use their unit as a base and to store donations.

“It was decided to call ourselves Castleford Community Support Group and we were delivering food parcels, shopping for individuals and collecting prescriptions.

“It was soon realised that a food bank was needed, but we needed to find somewhere else as a base.

“Coun Les Shaw organised for us to move into The Hut leisure and community centre on a temporary basis while he found somewhere more permanent, which we are in the process of moving into.

“Myself and Jenny Barlow then discussed organising and setting up a baby bank, Jenny was volunteering with the Castleford Community Support Group, which we have now done.”

The Airedale Foodbank was set up to continue the good work that the Castleford Community Support Group started in the early days of lockdown.

Key individuals who work closely with the community have been praised for their work within the food bank and the baby bank to help serve people in the area, including Councillor Scott, Councillor Shaw, Jo Parkin, Richard Sloan and Trevor Wainwright.

The initiative aims to tackle issues surrounding local poverty, helping those in vulnerable situations and lockdown hardships from becoming wider spread.

The baby bank was set up to support families who find themselves struggling with the cost of having a new baby.

Both the food bank and the baby bank work with a home delivery service through referrals from schools, doctors and social agencies.

It covers Airedale, Fryston, Ferry Fryston and Townville areas.

Coun Scott said: “Both the food bank and the baby bank are needed, we are in difficult times, unfortunately people are losing their jobs through no fault of their own.

“If we can help we will, we don’t want anyone to go hungry or in need of anything for their baby, they just need to contact Wakefield Council or myself directly and if we can help we do.

“We were recently given a lot of teddies and toys, these have been wrapped up for children in the community along with a selection box by volunteers.”

To offer your support, contact Councillor Scott on 07920878782 or Mike Dixon on 01977 5500911

Or visit Airedale Food Bank and Airedale Baby Bank on Facebook