Community

Food donation bags boost Tesco Winter Food Collection for local charities

Published

2 weeks ago

November 28, 2024

TESCO said this week that their customers can make a huge difference to the lives of Pembrokeshire people facing hunger and hardship by donating long-life items.

This comes as stores in Pembrokeshire are taking part in the 12^th annual Tesco Winter Food Collection, with donated items going directly to the charities Trussell and FareShare.

Both charities expect to see extremely high demand for their services this winter, and the Food Collection provides vital extra donations.

Ken Murphy, Tesco Group CEO, said: “Our partners tell us they’ve seen even more families needing their help and they expect demand to increase this winter, so we’re encouraging Pembrokeshire customers to donate whatever they can to our Winter Food Collection. With frontline charities and foodbanks facing exceptionally high demand this year, pre-packed donation bags make it easy to make a big difference to someone else’s Christmas.

“We’ve boosted our ongoing support to FareShare and Trussell with a donation of £500,000 each this year to help them meet additional demand through the summer and winter holiday periods when family finances are facing the most strain.”

Research shows that almost a quarter of children under four are now facing hunger and hardship – making them the age group most at risk – while a record 9.3 million people in the UK are facing hunger and hardship.

FareShare is reporting a similar story in its annual impact report, with the 8,000 charity partners and community groups they support having seen an 86% increase in people accessing their services, and more than two in three of their partner charities are seeing more people accessing their support for the first time.

In response to this, Tesco is making its pre-packed customer donation bags available at even more stores in an effort to top the 2 million meals donated at last year’s collection.

All large stores already offer them during the supermarket’s Winter Food Collection, but this year 86 of the largest Express stores will also stock them to make donating even easier no matter where you shop.

The bags, which typically cost between £2 and £3, are pre-filled with healthy and nutritious long-life items and can be picked up by Pembrokeshire customers in store and paid for at the checkout. The donated food is passed to FareShare and Trussell, who will distribute it to charities and food banks to help families who need it most.

Tesco’s Winter Food Collection, the biggest in the UK, runs in Express stores from 25-30 Novemberand in large stores from 28-30 November.

According to FareShare and Trussell are UHT & powered milk, the most-needed items tinned meat and fish, and sponge/rice pudding.

Emma Revie, Trussell Chief Executive, said: “Food banks are a last resort for people who’ve been left facing hunger and hardship. They’re a lifeline, offering a warm welcome and space to be heard. But with so many people unable to afford the essentials right now, food banks are having to purchase record amounts of emergency food.

“I know times are tough for everyone at the moment but, the Tesco Winter Collection is the perfect opportunity to donate. Options like the pre-packed donation bags and round-up-at-till make it easier than ever to support your local food bank today and help end hunger for good.”

Winter is typically the busiest time of year for Tesco’s charity partners, which see a marked increase in the number of people needing to turn to them for support. Between December 2023 and January 2024, Trussell’s community of food banks distributed more than 600,000 food parcels, and they are expecting another tough winter as levels of need remain high.

Kris Gibbon-Walsh, FareShare Chief Executive, said: “For more than 12 years, Tesco has been a brilliant partner, providing vital support to FareShare and communities across the UK, giving food and funding to ensure we can continue getting supplies to over 8,000 charities and community groups.

“The Tesco Winter Food Collection enables us to collect long-life, staple ingredients that complement the fresh surplus food we redistribute. If you’re able to donate just one item at your local store, you’ll be helping to provide a meal for someone in hardship this winter.”

Throughout the year, Tesco donates surplus food from its distribution network and stores through its charity and community partners, FareShare and Olio. Since 2012, Tesco has donated the equivalent of more than 220million meals through its Community Food Connection programme.

Community

Welsh Government introduces new Bill to tackle mining legacy

Published

3 hours ago

December 9, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has today (Dec 9) introduced a landmark Bill to address safety issues arising from Wales’s disused mining tips. The Disused Mine and Quarry Tips (Wales) Bill, spearheaded by Deputy First Minister and Minister for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, proposes the creation of a dedicated Disused Tips Authority for Wales.

If enacted, the Authority would oversee the management, monitoring, and safety of disused coal and non-coal tips across the country. This would make Wales the first in the UK to establish a comprehensive framework for tip safety.

The proposed body would be a Welsh Government-sponsored organisation tasked with ensuring disused tips no longer pose risks to human welfare due to instability. It would handle the assessment, registration, monitoring, and long-term management of these sites.

A response to devastating landslides

The Bill follows a series of incidents, including the catastrophic landslide at Tylorstown in February 2020, when storms Ciara and Dennis triggered the collapse of a disused tip. Over 60,000 tonnes of debris fell into the Rhondda Fach River, leading to the creation of the Coal Tip Safety Task Force.

In its evaluation, the Law Commission concluded that existing legislation is inadequate for managing disused coal tips, recommending a comprehensive legal overhaul.

Tylorstown visit marks key moment

To mark the introduction of the Bill, Huw Irranca-Davies visited Tylorstown, the site of the 2020 landslide. Speaking from the location, he said:

“Wales has a proud mining heritage, and it is imperative that we have a structured approach to managing disused coal and non-coal tips to ensure they are safe and not a threat to our communities.

“These landslides, as well as the recent incident at Cwmtillery, illustrate the potential risks and concerns that disused tips present to the people living in their shadow.

“This Bill is about keeping communities safe and is part of a wider programme of work to improve the safety of disused coal tips. I look forward to working with MSs and stakeholders on the Bill’s proposals in the coming months.”

The scale of the challenge

Wales is home to 2,573 disused coal tips, with estimates suggesting there are more than 20,000 additional disused tips across the country. The proposed legislation is set to create a unified and proactive approach to managing these sites, safeguarding communities while preserving the country’s industrial legacy.

Community

Choir celebrates Christmas at annual fundraising concert

Published

5 hours ago

December 9, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A NARBERTH-BASED ladies’ choir is gearing up to headline a festive evening of music and cheer at the Regency Hall, Saundersfoot, on Friday, December 20.

Serendipity Ladies’ Choir, led by musical director Juliet Rossiter, will be joined by baritone Martyn Davies, young singers from Saundersfoot Primary School, and trombonist Ianto Evans for the seasonal celebration.

Founded eight years ago, the choir has grown to include 50 members who meet weekly for rehearsals in Narberth. Juliet, who has been with the choir for seven of its eight years, praised the group’s resilience, recalling the one Christmas concert she missed due to undergoing a kidney transplant.

“The choir managed brilliantly without me, of course,” said Juliet. “This year, we’ll be performing classic favourites like O Holy Night as well as some new pieces that are sure to amaze the audience.”

Serendipity’s Christmas Concert takes place at 7:30pm on Friday, December 20.

Tickets are £12 and will be available at the door.

Pictured above: Serendipity Ladies’ Choir from Narberth, pictured with musical director Juliet Rossiter (Pic: Supplied).

Community

Leisure centres open until 9:00pm to support those affected by Storm Darragh

Published

22 hours ago

December 8, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKESHIRE’S Leisure Centres are stepping in to provide essential services for those left without electricity or utilities following Storm Darragh. All centres, except Fishguard, will remain open until 9:00pm on Sunday, December 8, offering warm spaces and more to residents in need.

Facilities available include:

Warm spaces with free hot drinks.
Charging stations for electric devices.
Hot water, with visitors encouraged to bring flasks for filling.
Shower facilities for public use.

Locations and availability Leisure centres in the following areas will remain open:

Crymych
Haverfordwest
Milford Haven
Pembroke
St Davids
Tenby

Fishguard Leisure Centre remains closed due to storm damage. As an alternative, Letterston Memorial Hall will offer limited facilities until 9:00pm.

Normal service resumes tomorrow

From Monday, December 9, all centres will resume their usual opening hours, with the exception of Fishguard, which will remain closed until repairs are completed.

For further updates, visit the Pembrokeshire Leisure website.

(Cover image: Martin Cavaney)