Stroud Town Council is working with more than 30 community groups, organisations and charities across the town and in neighbouring parishes, alongside colleagues from Stroud District Council, to discuss what steps can be taken to support local people, writes Marianne Sweet.
“With rising fuel and food costs it is clear that many households will struggle to make ends meet this winter, so the Town Council staff and councillors are doing their utmost to support residents,” said Stroud Mayor Stella Parkes.
The community groups will offer warm spaces in community buildings and church rooms across the town where people can gather together, take part in activities and keep warm. The Town Council is supporting this initiative with funding for hot drinks, phone charging facilities, printing leaflets and social media marketing so that people know where to can come to join in.
Councillors awarded £1,000 to Transition Stroud for its initiatives including slow cooker packages. The group has provided 38 slow cooker packages to the Network of Stroud Hubs – Top of Town, Trinity Rooms, Middle of the Hill and Paganhill Community Group. The Hubs will also provide recipe help and run “chat and chop’ sessions so people can cook meals together.
Adrian Oldman, Non-Exec Director Transition Stroud, said: “Transition Stroud wanted to do something positive to enable those who will find it hard to feed their families this winter. By teaming up with the Food Hubs, the slow cooker packs funded by local people’s generosity, will find their way to the homes who can benefit most.”
The community Foodhubs will continue to distribute food and run community cafés across the town. All operate on a “pay what you can, or not at all” basis.
For more information about other support services available in the town, please visit our dedicated webpage: https://www.stroudtown.gov.uk/cost-of-living-help.html
