#WakefieldCares campaign raises thousands for district's most vulnerable

A Wakefield charity has thanked the public for their support after a fundraising campaign raised thousands of pounds.
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The Community Foundation for Wakefield District launched their #WakefieldCares campaign last month, as part of an urgent effort to provide support for the volunteers and charities on the front line of the coronavirus crisis.

Jon Ingham, who has helped to spearhead the campaign, said: “We have been delighted to receive donations from individuals and organisations, some of these are now being repeated as the effects of the coronavirus are still being felt by families across the Wakefield district.

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“The delivery of food and essential household supplies remains a key issue and one that inspired members of Wakefield Rotary to give up their “dinner money” to provide extra food parcels.

Providing: Lisa Grant (far right) with volunteers at St Catherines Food Bank, pictured prior to lockdown.Providing: Lisa Grant (far right) with volunteers at St Catherines Food Bank, pictured prior to lockdown.
Providing: Lisa Grant (far right) with volunteers at St Catherines Food Bank, pictured prior to lockdown.

“They have been joined by Normanton and Chantry Rotary Club members, with the money matched by a £4,400 contribution from Wakefield’s new Women’s Fund.

“Together they are helping to fund 14 food banks right across the district.”

During lockdown, the charity has dealt with more than 7,000 referrals, helping 230 volunteers a week to organise more than 3,472 food parcels and 386 prescription deliveries.

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Lisa Grant, Centre Manager at St Catherine’s Church Centre, said that funding from the #WakefieldCares campaign had allowed their volunteers to help hundreds of people.

She said: “Funding from the public has been a lifeline for people locally. It has supported the work of our food bank and much, much, more.

“We are now able to provide befriending services for elderly people who feel isolated and vulnerable many of whom used to attend the centre 2 to 3 times a week and have not been out for the last 3 months.

“We now provide door step visit backed up by regular phone calls. Once talking people have said that they had been struggling to cook for themselves and need something positive to focus their minds on.

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“These door step conversations have resulted in the delivery of hot and microwavable meals together with puzzle packs to aid their wellbeing.”

To donate to the campaign, visit justgiving.com/campaign/WakefieldCares, or send a cheque to #WakefieldCares, PO Box 695, 13 Upper York Street, Wakefield WF1 9NW.

Among the community groups to have benefited from the campaign is the Horbury Community Choir, who moved their rehearsals online shortly after lockdown was introduced.

Organiser Tom Long said: “Horbury Community Choir, a project of Senior Citizens Support Group, provides motivation for people to “get out of the house” and socialise at rehearsals.

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“All rehearsals were moved online and rehearsals continue every week.

“The choir is rehearsing for a huge series of celebratory events to mark the defeat of Covid 19, which will be funded by Community Foundation, Wakefield.”

The Foundation have also used £20,000 from the Elderly Persons Social Isolation Fund to reach out to older people who may be isolated or lonely during the crisis.

Volunteer befrienders have made more than 600 phone calls to the district’s most vulnerable people in the last three months.

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And support from Wakefield Council has also allowed eight local charities to increase their support for young people, who may be struggling to develop skills during lockdown.

Dean Freeman, director of the city’s Long Division festival, said: “Our qualification for young people based in Wakefield District gives them unique opportunities to work with us on our annual festival as well as develop key skills focused on increasing their aspirations and confidence.”