A Colne Valley charity which helps people to survive with food and other essentials has moved to a new base.
Colne Valley Help, which supports people in need to access food and other vital household support, has moved to community-owned Slaithwaite Civic Hall from the village’s fire station.
It was set up during the pandemic but the cost of living crisis means demands on its service continues to grow rapidly.
The charity operates two local food shares – one covering the valley including Marsden, Slaithwaite and Linthwaite and the other supporting people in Golcar, Longwood and Milnsbridge.
The Golcar food share will remain at the Drop By Centre on the Sycamore estate but the valley food share is moving to Slaithwaite Civic Hall from its current premises at Slaithwaite Fire Station.
Chris Woodhead, chair of Slaithwaite Civic Hall Trust, said: “We are delighted to welcome Colne Valley Help and the valley food share to the Civic.
“As we work towards a refurbishment programme for the whole building we are looking to increase community involvement and our new partnership with Colne Valley Help is one of several new initiatives which will bring this about.”
Colne Valley Help’s chair, Clr Matthew McLoughlin (above), said: “The fire station has been a fantastic base since we first set up during the pandemic.
“The station’s staff and their families have been extremely supportive but no-one expected us to still be here and to still be so necessary. We’ve doubled in size in the last year or so and there’s no sign of the numbers going down. The move to the Civic will give us more space for storage and more comfortable surroundings in which to deliver the food share.”
The charity currently supports more than 50 households every week across the two food shares.
Board member and volunteer Lee Seacombe said: “That’s a lot of people. Some people come every week, others once or twice a month – it depends on their circumstances.
“Some people are just not managing at the moment and others need us when money runs out at the end of the month. We’re here whatever, even if all you need is a couple of weeks support to see you through a crisis.”
Another volunteer and board member, Fiona Russell, added: “We’re not a food bank. People should still use the Welcome Centre in Huddersfield and Local Welfare Provision in an emergency.
“We’re here to provide that bit of extra help to enable people to cope better. People use us for free when they need to, but people who use us regularly make a donation. It all goes in the kitty to help other people.
“We buy a wide range of staples such as tinned food, cereals, cleaning products and toiletries and we subscribe to FareShare, a charity which collects surplus food from supermarkets. We have fresh fruit and vegetables from FareShare and also from the Green Valley Grocer in Slaithwaite.”
The charity needs community support to keep running.
Lee said: “We have a network of local supporters. Some people donate online through our Friends of Colne Valley Help scheme while other people just give us an envelope of cash when they can.
“Organisations in the valley give us regular donations such as Marsden Resilience Fund, the Cuckoo’s Nest charity shop and Parkwood Methodist Church.
“The local churches, schools and GP surgeries are brilliant as they not only collect for us but also direct vulnerable people and families our way. It’s a real community effort.”
Clr McLoughlin concludes: “The fact is we shouldn’t be here but we still are and finding such a great new home for the charity will help us to be around for as long as we are needed.”
Colne Valley Help needs more volunteers who can work on Friday lunchtimes and is also looking for new board members.
To volunteer or make a donation go to the charity’s website at https://colnevalleyhelp.org.uk/
Non-perishable food, personal care and cleaning items can also be donated via the charity’s bins at Marsden Mechanics and Slaithwaite Fire Station.
Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging, website content and copywriting.
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