Autumn is definitely in the air. We are unfortunately anticipating that the upcoming Autumn/Winter period will be a difficult one for many households in Shropshire with the combination of the £20 cut to Universal Credit which came into force on Wednesday 6th of October, the end of the furlough scheme and a rise in energy and food costs; the work of the SFPA and our partners is more important now than ever. Please find below details to the upcoming events we have planned for Challenge Poverty Week in England and Wales- we'd love to have you join us. There’s also the usual Shropshire updates and links to news and resources we think will be useful or of interest to our network.
SFPA updates
Challenge Poverty Week England and Wales is an opportunity for us all to say what needs to change after Covid to enable our own communities to thrive. Get involved by joining us for one of our online events.
Wednesday 6th October 4pm –5.30pm
Come and join us to hear from community groups and organisations working to improve children’s access to healthy, affordable food across Shropshire. It will be a chance to celebrate achievements, learn from each other and identify priority areas of work as we look forward to how we can build back fairer in response to the Covid crisis.
Book your free place here.
Monday 11th October,4pm-5pm
We would like to invite you to join us for Shropshire's ‘Worrying About Money?’ leaflet launch event. These leaflets are new co-produced resource for Shropshire that we hope will help reduce barriers to existing financial entitlements and reduce the need for charitable food aid.
The session will be a chance to:
-Find out more about the leaflet, where to access it and how to use it.
-Hear more about the ‘cash-first’ approach to food insecurity.
-Understand more about the current financial landscape for people on low incomes in Shropshire.
-Hear from some of the groups who have helped co-produce the leaflet and other frontline groups working in Shropshire.
-Register your interest in receiving further training around the leaflet and how to approach conversations about money with the people you support.
Book your free place here.
More hard copies of Shropshire’s new ‘Worrying About Money?’ leaflet available
Contact sophie@shrewsburyfoodhub.org.uk if you would like some free hard copies.
Shropshire updates
Holiday Activities and Food Programme- Applications now open for Winter HAF Christmas Activity Programme
Shropshire HAF are looking for applications for the Winter HAF programme. Deadline for applications to be submitted 29th October 2021.
Two types of grant can be applied for:
1. Core provisions: which must have activities last for a minimum of 4 hours per day, for at least 1 day in the week of 20th December 2021- 24th December 2021. Healthy meals must also be provided. Read the Shropshire HAF Guidance for Core Providers for the full criteria.
2. Enrichment activities only: Enrichment providers can offer workshops to enhance the core HAF provision, focusing only on enriching the expereince of those children taking part in the HAF programme, withing the week of 20th December- 24th December 2021. Read the Shropshire HAF Guidance for Enrichment Providers for more details.
For more information about Shropshire HAF visit the Shropshire HAF Website
Contact: HAF.programme@shropshire.gov.uk for questions about the application process.
Shropshire Council Public Health urge residents not to return to pre-pandemic behaviours while cases remain high
We are having to ‘live with coronavirus’, and while restrictions have relaxed, Shropshire Council Public Health urge everyone to continue to follow national guidelines by:
· getting vaccinated
· testing regularly
· wearing face coverings in crowded spaces
· washing hands regularly
· letting fresh air in when indoors
· social distancing
There is still widespread community transmission right across Shropshire which has led to a significant rise in cases. During 17-23 September, there were 1,490 positive cases reported – an increase of 48% on the previous week.