Aspire Cost of Living Crisis Support

Aim

We know that we have so many vulnerable people locally. That’s why we want to set up this Warm Space and cost-of-living support facility.

Who are we?

We are a community hub, providing services throughout the week in two redundant buildings a church and retail space which now buzz with activity. We offer many projects and activities to support the local community such as:- Free Food Project, Community Café, Men in Sheds, Parent and Toddler Groups, Kingdom Play, over 70s lunch club, Tea Dance, Steppingstone (Homelessness project), Telephone Support Service, Just be (Mental Wellbeing Groups and much more. We have a history of delivering successful projects (Reports available) which meet the needs of many of the most vulnerable in our community. We also attained the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2019. We work alongside many other third sector organisation as part of Ryde Unite and in partnership with the local town and parish councils. We are very much driven by what the community would like from us and projects are evolved around people and their needs.  

Community impact

The Ryde community suffers from a low wage economy, seasonal work and some significant underlying social issues. The ward in which Aspire is based is in the lowest 10% in nationwide deprivation indices and there is considerable unemployment, family breakdown, alcohol and substance abuse. Many local schools have around 50% of children receiving free school meals. The Isle of Wight as a whole was predicted by the institute of fiscal studies to be one of the two hardest hit local authority areas national from Coronavirus when health, social and economic factors are combined. We are based within Ryde East however our provision is open to anyone who can travel. We operate a minibus from other areas of the island when volunteers are available.  

Why are we crowdfunding?

Aspire provides care, companionship and connections to the community of Ryde and the surrounding area as a free community service.

Aspire understands the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and are looking at ways to help people cope with soaring bills and prices. Warm Spaces are one way – opening up our heated community hall so that people can come in during the day, rather than have to heat their own homes.

With the price cap for energy bills known to be a phenomenal rise to £3,549 this October, we know “something has to be done”.

We know that we have so many vulnerable people locally. That’s why we want to set up this Warm Space and cost-of-living support facility. it’s a big worry that food banks are already struggling as fewer people can afford to donate to them. Martin Lewis has been saying we need to start planning for the autumn. He suggested warm banks and using community buildings and this is what we want to provide.

We therefore require Crowdfunding funding to help us heat our community space put in place a staff member to coordinate things, provide newspapers, boardgames etc as well as , providing free hot drinks and a hot meal at least 4 days per week. We also want to offer homecooked pre frozen meals for people who are unable to come to our Warm Space 

We also want to support vulnerable people and families with additional crisis food hampers, survival cookery lessons and Cost of living survival bags.

How we’ll spend the money raised

Kindness Cupboard - We want to provide Essential Food for individuals and families who are in need. Theses hampers include essential food, toiletries & sanitary products as well as a few luxury items such as Chocolates and biscuits etc to help people during the cost of living crisis they are experiencing.

Food hampers £10 each x 100 = £2000

Cost of living survival bags – We will be putting together ‘Cost of living survival bags’ which will contain, (blankets, hats & Gloves, slippers, socks, thermal mugs, hot water bottles and information on how to save energy costs)

100 Cost of living survival bags at £23.70 each = £2370 

We want to deliver our Community Lunch 4 days per week in a warm space which will be open from 10.00 until 2.00 with free tea, coffee and healthy snacks. We want to open this up to everyone in the community. 

We will need to generate £50 per day to pay for the energy to run our kitchen and heat our community hall which will be our allocated warm space. £50  x 50 days = £2400

Warm Space Coordinator 4 hours per day over 4 days at £15 per hour = £240 per week for 12 weeks = £2880

Food cost of £5 per person per day including tea & coffee feeding 20 people per day over 12 weeks = £4800

Frozen meals – We want to providing precooked frozen meals to over 400 individuals who are unable to cook for themselves or attend our Community Lunches. We also are providing precooked frozen meals to families to ensure they have a good quality, nutritionally balanced meal every day.

Frozen Meals £3 each x 500 = £1500

Funding to support people in crisis who are without energy £20 per family for 100 families £2000

Ability to purchase more energy efficient white goods and cooking devices for families in crisis 20 families at an average of £150 per appliance. £4000

This project successfully funded on 14th February 2023