Business appeal to support free meals partnership

A new partnership that provides free meals to local people in need is seeking support from local businesses to keep it running.

Westholme School and Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School (TIGHS), both in Blackburn, have been working with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Blackburn Youth Zone and Newground Together to reach thousands of people with free cooked meals during the Coronavirus crisis.

During school closures, Westholme and TIGHS have opened up their kitchens – while staff maintain social distancing – to cook meals for the local community.

The Council has supported both schools to facilitate a new meal distribution partnership, which is providing over 5,000 meals during May to residents who need help with putting food on the table.

The project has been kickstarted thanks to funding from Westholme School and their catering provider Thomas Franks, plus TIGHS, Newground and Great Places Housing Association.

To continue the partnership beyond May and extend the free meals service to more people in the borough during the extended lockdown period, the partnership is appealing for funding from businesses and organisations.

Councillor Mustafa Desai, Executive Member for Adult Services & Prevention, said:

Westholme School and TIGHS approached the Council with proposals to use their school kitchens to prepare meals for people in need during lockdown. Council officers supported the creation of a brand new partnership that benefits vulnerable local residents who need help to get through these difficult times.

As the lockdown situation continues and people face financial pressures, this service is undoubtedly a lifeline to some of the borough’s residents.

The Council has provided essential support to help establish the partnership and is now appealing to local businesses and other organisations who can offer some funding to help it continue.

It’s a unique opportunity to help a newly established partnership continue supporting vulnerable people who are struggling due to the Coronavirus crisis.

Viv Davenport, Westholme’s Commercial Director, added:

This is a wonderful, kind initiative which we are delighted to be part of. It’s more important than ever right now to serve our communities – by working together we can achieve very special things. Blackburn with Darwen Council has been tremendous in connecting us to those most in need and we can’t wait to make a real difference.

Amina Modan, Assistant Principal at Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School, said:

TIGHS has a long track record of supporting vulnerable people in the local community and we are very pleased to be involved in this initiative. We have observed first-hand the struggles that many ordinary people have faced as a result of the coronavirus crisis and we are delighted to be able to offer our resources to help those in need as part of the Star Coronavirus Appeal.

Already, the partnership has supported clients of Age UK, Blackburn with Darwen Carers, residents of Together Housing and elderly residents and families in the Ivy Street area of Blackburn.

Distribution of the cooked meals is also providing some much needed respite to community organisations and volunteers who have been regularly cooking meals since late March to support people who have been affected by the crisis.

Sam Morris, Chief Executive of Blackburn with Darwen Carers who have been supported through the project, added:

Having a meal delivered to the door of carers who are supporting their family member due to illness or disability has had a huge impact. Carers have said it is one less thing to think about when juggling the care of their loved ones.

Businesses and organisations who can offer funding to help the partnership continue to provide free meals for local vulnerable people can contact Hannah Allen from Blackburn Youth Zone via hannah.allen@blackburnyz.org.