PRESS RELEASE: CAN DO 4:13

Rushed off their feet

A recent national analysis shows that the ecclesiastical parish of Aston and Nechells is 93rd out of the 12,707 Church of England Parishes, that is amongst the 1% most deprived in the country.

The CAN DO 4:13 Charity that meets the needs of the poorest in Aston and Nechells has had a very busy year. The St James Aston Advice centre dealt with over 2000 cases, well over half needed advice on welfare benefits while there has been a decline in requests for help with immigration matters.

Throughout the year there has been a month on month increase in overall numbers seeking advice. Further increases are expected as welfare reforms are implemented in the coming months.

“We have an interesting situation with the advice centre”; said Nigel Cripps, charity secretary “demand is increasing but finance is dwindling. This service has traditionally been funded by grants from the Government sector and so far we have not managed to find others to bridge the funding gap”.

The Aston and Nechells Foodbank is the other arm of the organisation which recently completed its first full year of operation. The Foodbank has over 60 partners who refer people who need emergency food parcels. We have found that a surprising number of people in crisis have been placed there by late payment of benefits by statutory organisations.

In the first year 543 food vouchers were issued; 1,308 individuals have received food, 567 of them children. The number receiving food vouchers is increasing all the time. The two distribution points (The Salvation Army in Aston and St Matthews church in Nechells) are increasing volunteer staffing to cope.

The Foodbank currently relies entirely on volunteers and individual donations.

Behind the success is the generosity of the public who respond to requests for food donations. In the past year 14½ tonnes of food have been donated by 23 churches, 2 uniformed groups, 11 Schools, 5 Community Groups and a company all of whom regularly collect food. The other major contributors are the customers of Tesco in Witton Lane who each month respond to our request to purchase and donate specific food items.

Money is also needed to purchase food that has not been donated but is needed to meet the requirement to provide nutritionally balanced food parcels.

Foodbank volunteers come mostly from the local community. Running this enterprise gives a first class opportunity to the young unemployed who gain skills that are transferable into paid employment.

Heather Buckingham a community director of CAN DO said, ‘The success of the foodbank is a great credit to the 30 active volunteers and the public who donate food. Without this help those in crisis would have gone without food’.
—————————————————————————————————
Further information and arrangements for photo opportunities contact Nigel Cripps 0121 382 9263

Website – press the CAN DO button on www.astonnechellscofe.org.uk

CAN DO 4:13 CAN DO = Community of Aston and Nechells Dreams and Opportunities. The organisation is a charitable company that has been set up by the churches in Aston and Nechells