CASH BOOST FOR FOOD BANKS

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

The Dean of Leicester Cathedral, the Very Rev David Monteith, visits FareShare

Cash boost for food banks

by Adrian Troughton

The new Dean of Leicester has announced an increase in support for food banks.

The Very Rev David Monteith revealed the Diocese of Leicester was to give FareShare Leicester £10,000 a year – up from last year's £5,000.

The Dean made the announcement as he visited the headquarters of FareShare Leicester, on Oaks industrial estate, off Coventry Road, Narborough.

Mr Monteith said: "It was pleasure to visit the FareShare organisation and to be able to announce that the diocese is to double its financial support.

"This increased support should enable this organisation to plan ahead with confidence and not to have to worry about meeting administration costs."

FareShare is an international movement which receives food from shops and factories and gives it to churches, charities and community groups to distribute to the poor.

Nearly 50 food banks will be running in the county by the end of June – double the number that were open a year ago.

Mr Monteith said the work FareShare does was becoming increasingly relied upon as more people struggled in the financial climate.

He said: "It is extraordinary that in our society, which is relatively wealthy, there are many people who just can't put food on the table for their families.

"The number of people who have to be helped in this way is growing."Throughout the diocese we are coming across increasing cases of hardship, people who, quite simply, are relying on organisations such as FareShare to keep them going."

John Willetts, project director of FareShare Leicester, said: "The priority that David Monteith has given to this visit highlights what the churches, cathedral, diocese and FareShare Leicester are doing to support the marginalised and disadvantaged in our community.

"As our founding partner, the diocese has always given us great support."

Jonathan Kerry, chief executive and diocesan secretary, said: "The Diocese of Leicester is delighted to give additional support to FareShare Leicester.

"We are doubling our annual contribution to help FareShare have a secure organisational base and to mean that money it raises from other sources goes more directly to benefit those working with people in our communities."