Lock-down Update: Penzance Rotary uses reserves to relieve food poverty in West Cornwall's hardest hit households.

Dear Friends

A report below details how Rotary has immediately organised funding of food for households which have no money at all coming in.

Unprecedented circumstances have overtaken us all since our last communication and we sincerely hope that all Friends of the Club and their families are keeping safe and well.

Like everyone, our Club members have had to stop meeting each Friday. Members have instead turned to alternative ways of communicating but none better than the telephone for keeping in touch with each other, hearing each other’s voices and for checking on each other's well-being.

The way that we conduct the business of the Club has needed to adapt quickly. The Club's Council met prior to the Government's 'Stay at Home' advice and suspended all physical meetings, activities and events and agreed protocols for  the continued operation of  the Club's community support work. The first Friday video meeting of the Club was held on 3rd April and up to a dozen members have taken part each week since.

The Club's support of the community at this time of great insecurity and hardship has never been higher. 

President Paul has issued the second of his post Lock-down reports to members and supporters, and we have pleasure in sharing his thoughts with you:

I trust this update finds everyone well.

It is quite odd that I have been much busier with Rotary business since we suspended meetings.  More on that will follow.  My own thoughts are that I never would have imagined that my year as President would turn out like this.  My guess is that we will probably not be able to meet until July and my first task will be to hand over to Nigel!  In the meantime, I hope we can meet regularly by Zoom.  We have had two meetings on the last two Fridays at midday which about twelve members have been able to attend.  I think all found these useful not just to get updates but also to stay in touch.  I will continue to send out invitations and hopefully some more will be able to join.  I will also send updates by email such as this. 
By the way - I hope to have my “ex” Presidents Night some time later in the year.

As I mentioned above, things have been pretty busy.
The joint funding committee with Rotary Club of Mount’s Bay has been meeting regularly by Zoom. We have agreed the priority areas where we can provide grant funding.  All are local.  Our Club Council has been advised of the organisations and the amounts and has approved all to date. 
The funds have been provided jointly by both clubs. Our priority has been to identify where our limited funds can have the greatest impact.  From our discussions and information received from the community, it became obvious that many families were struggling because of losing income and as a result there is greater demand on food banks and on organisations that support the elderly and local communities.  Therefore, immediate grants were made to some of these local organisations.  As you know, we have made hardship grants to schools for the last two Christmases.  Therefore, we are aware that head teachers are very aware of families that are in particular need.  We asked them to advise how many families were in great need and we have made a grant to each school based on the numbers reported.  We expect that many schools will obtain food vouchers to support families.
 
To date we have made the following grants:
Fishermen’s Mission                £800
Pengarth Day Centre               £500
Food Banks                              £1000 (through Penwithian)
Schools                                    £4600 (awaiting further replies from schools)
 
We anticipate that the Food Banks will need a further £1000 for May. 
Thirteen of the twenty Primary Schools have responded and the above amount has been paid.  There are seven expected this week as well as the three secondary schools.

We have been very fortunate in that, thanks to John Underhill’s diligence, we have secured a grant from Cornwall Council available to retail businesses (for which the shop qualifies) of £25,000 for the Rotary Shop.  This has allowed us to continue to provide quarterly distributions to both clubs, despite the shop being closed . . . .

We will continue to monitor the on-going needs and consider if an appeal will need to be made in the near future should this continue for a long time.

In closing this update, please keep safe and we will try to keep in touch as much as possible.
Paul

President Paul refers to funds that are being granted via Schools. The sum of £4,600 represents applications to relieve hardship for 92 households in the Penzance, Newlyn and West Penwith area, each to be provided with £50 typically in the form of food and utilities vouchers.