In 2013 Apex Stranraer secured a Big Lottery Support and Connect Fund grant to set up a foodbank and to enhance our existing ‘Moving In’ service which provides housing starter packs for those in need in Wigtownshire.
Working closely with the Trussell Trust, the largest Foodbank provider in the UK, the Wigtownshire Foodbank was opened in December last year. The need for this service was quickly validated and between December and April we were able to feed 300 local people in need and gratefully received almost 2 tonnes of food donations. The Trussell Trust has facilitated a partnership with Tesco where the Stranraer team held its national collection last year. Support from Tesco has been invaluable and the team has been able to set up a permanent collection point at the local store in Stranraer. The service is available to local people facing hardship, from those who have lost their jobs to those leaving prison, or those receiving long-term benefit sanctions. Every individual accessing the foodbank is offered a full range of support from Apex and from our partners. By providing a joined up signposting service we are able to tackle deeper issues and support individuals in the long term to eliminate dependency.
In addition, this year Apex Stranraer has built up a very strong partnership with the local Episcopal Church who donate goods to our Moving In service and sit on the project steering group. The church held a charity concert recently which was attended by 100 people and raised £550 for the service. This year the Moving In service has provided over 80 housing starter packs to people throughout Wigtownshire.
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