The cost-of-living crisis has made initiatives like the Swindon Food Collective more precious than ever to the local communities they support. But the crisis has also had a devasting impact on the donations they receive. Today teams from Barratt David Wilson delivered goods they’re collecting across the spring and summer at their local offices to help fill the shelves ahead of the half term and summer holidays.
“For the first time in a long time we are having to purchase high levels of stock to ensure we can feed the numbers of people coming through our doors,” says Cher Smith MBE, manager of the Swindon Food Collective. “Everything from shampoo and toothpaste to tea bags and tinned vegetables are in really short supply. Knowing companies like Barratt Homes Bristol and Barratt David Wilson Homes South West are sharing news of what we do with their staff, and triggering this kind of response, makes such a difference.”
In 2023, Swindon Food Collective fed almost 10,500 people, a quarter of them children. They rely on donations of non-perishable, tinned or dried food and toiletries from churches, schools, local companies, community groups, supermarkets and individuals which are used to create food boxes shared with those who are often referred via schools, doctors or social workers. They have 12 distribution centres around Swindon where food is collected. You can find out more about donating here.
“We know that during holidays like half term when there are no school meals to rely on, the stress hits families harder than ever. Initiatives like Swindon Food Collective recognises and respects those families with the help they provide which is why were really keen to offer our support,” says Louise Ware, sales director for Barratt David Wilson Homes South West.
Andrea Pilgrim, sales director for Barratt Homes Bristol added: “The Swindon Food Collective shows the difference communities can make when people pull together. Something like an office collection is so simple but can add up to a big difference to a charity like this. Our teams feel it is a complete privilege to be involved.”
If you’d like to support Swindon Food Collective this half term visit www.swindonfoodcollective.org
Barratt Homes Bristol and Barratt David Wilson Homes South West are currently building much-needed new homes at Wichelstowe. Residents at Wichelstowe can donate food for Swindon Food Collective at the nearby Waitrose supermarket.
