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.

MILFORD HAVEN TOWN COUNCIL is embracing the festive spirit this year, spreading goodwill and joy through generous donations to local organisations.

At Monday night’s Full Council meeting (Nov 15), councillors agreed to allocate funds to a range of community groups, supporting their Christmas events and initiatives.

The recipients of the donations are:

• 1st Hakin Guides – £100
• 1st Hakin Rangers – £100
• 1st Milford Haven Rainbow Unit – £95
• 2nd Milford Haven Sea Scouts – £150
• 7th Milford Haven Brownies – £150
• Gelliswick Community Choir – £200
• Hubberston and Hakin Community Centre Luncheon Club – £100
• Milford Haven Business Circle – £100
• Milford Haven Fire Station, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service – £150
• Milford Haven Junior Town Band – £150
• Milford Haven Youth Council – £150
• Milford United Football Club – £100
• Parents & Supporters Association (P&SA) – Milford Haven Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets – £200
• Pembrokeshire Puffins Disability Swimming Squad – £100
• Salvation Army – £100
• St Katharine’s Stratford Players – £200
• Steynton Community Group – £100

A total of over £2,000 was shared among these groups, all of whom play vital roles in bringing the community together, especially during the festive season.

The council expressed its gratitude for the hard work and dedication of these organisations, which contribute to the town’s vibrancy and sense of unity.

A PUBLIC consultation on Pembrokeshire’s budget for the next financial year is being launched, with fears of increased council tax levels to balance the books.

Speaking ahead of the consultation launch, Cabinet Member for Corporate Finance and Efficiencies Cllr Joshua Beynon said: “Like many local authorities across Wales, this council is experiencing increased demand for our vital services, which brings with it significant financial pressures.

“The quarter 2 budget monitoring report has identified a projected £3.9m shortfall in the current financial year (2024-25). While this presents challenges, we remain committed to finding sustainable solutions.

“It’s important to acknowledge the pressures facing key areas such as Social Care and Housing, with a forecasted £8.8m overspend for 2024-25, including £5.68m related to Children’s Services. These services are seeing unprecedented growth in demand, particularly in residential care placements. While this highlights the growing needs of our community, it also underscores the importance of working collaboratively to address them.

“In Adult Care, increasing demand – driven by an ageing population – requires us to explore innovative approaches to meet the needs of our residents while managing resources effectively.

“We recognise that these challenges require thoughtful action. That is why we continue to actively engage with the Welsh Government to advocate for fair funding settlements and long-term solutions for Local Authorities.

“Despite these financial pressures, our commitment remains clear: protecting the services that residents value most.

“The Cabinet is focused on presenting options in February that clearly outline the impact of any necessary changes to services. To put this into context, each one per cent increase in council tax generates approximately £820,000 in additional income – equivalent to just 29p per week for a Band D household. While no decisions have been made, this demonstrates how small contributions can collectively make a big difference.

“Above all, I want to reassure residents that we are approaching this budget process with your needs and priorities at the forefront. The challenges we face are significant, but we are determined to navigate them in a way that safeguards our communities and ensures we continue to deliver for Pembrokeshire.”

Documents ahead of next week’s meeting of the council’s Cabinet illustrate the stark situation faced in the county, with the Outline Draft County Council Budget for 2025-26 “prepared against a backdrop of the most challenging financial situation to face Pembrokeshire County Council since its inception,” with the projected funding gap for 2025-26 currently £34.1m and potential council tax rises of as much as 16 per cent.

The public consultation will run up to January 5; a draft budget eventually considered by Cabinet on February 10 with a final decision by full council on February 20 of next year.