Weekly meeting

Introduced by Paul W, Marianne spoke to us at this evening's Zoom meeting about the work she does as a Families Matter Key Worker in Watton..

Marianne told us about her work in setting up the Holiday Kitchen at the Charlotte Harvey Centre in Watton. At about the time that the pandemic hit this country earlier in the year, she identified a need for extra support for children who rely on school meals to avoid going hungry. The closure of most schools until September hit this group very hard, and although the Government introduced a voucher scheme, there were still some who fell through the net. 

Staffed by volunteers, the Holiday Kitchen operates during school holidays to provide food to families who could not otherwise afford it. They receive donations from Tesco, Morrisons, Food Banks and from church collections. Marianne spoke very movingly about some of the families the scheme has helped, and feels the scheme has made a big difference to the lives of poor families in the local area.

She is planning to create a Watton Family Hub, which will oversee the Holiday Kitchen, and include other schemes planned for the future, such as a baby group. She also expressed a hope that in future her group may be able to have access to the kitchens at the Charlotte Harvey Centre and offer cooked meals to children and their families.

Marianne is clearly passionate about her work and dedicated to improving the lives of families going through tough times. President Mike thanked her on behalf of the club for taking the time to speak to us this evening, and indicated we would try to support her where possible.