FOOD POVERTY SUPPORT

Aim

Rhubarb Farm needs the salary of our Food Support Worker who organises food deliveries to vulnerable people in food poverty during COVID-19

Rhubarb Farm is an empowering rural social enterprise on the Notts/Derbs border helping to change the lives of vulnerable people for the better. We grow fruit and vegetables but we also grow people. In normal times over 80 people a week come to volunteer at the Farm in order to improve their lives, build confidence and move forward.

During COVID-19 we have adapted to support 55 households a week with food deliveries, many referred by GPs and social workers, as well as supporting over 80 of our volunteers with weekly phone calls to help their resilience during lockdown.  

Because we have lost a lot of income as a result of COVID-19, which funded salaries, we need funding to maintain our Food Support Worker post.  This is a key role organising our food supplies, packing and deliveries.  For the people we deliver to, the food bags are vital, because they are either isolated in rural villages without transport, have mental health problems, or are in poverty because of loss of income or living on benefits.  

These are comments from some recipients:

Family of 4, 2 adults, 2 children, one child with health issues. (Shirebrook):

"These bags have been an absolute lifeline for us. We are both self-employed so now have very limited income. We really do not know what we would have done without Rhubarb Farm. The food provided in our family bag keeps us going."


Single older isolated man. (Shirebrook)
"You have become my new family, I look forward to seeing you all week. I do not know what I would have done without you this last few weeks, I cannot thank you enough for bringing these bags and checking that I am OK."


Single young woman with mental ill health. (Chesterfield)
"I do not see anybody apart from you, I look forward all week to seeing the car turn into my street."

This project successfully funded on 22nd July 2020