Pop up Foodbank
In support of Challenge Poverty Week, Whitburn Academy Family Link Workers Rachel Fry and Christine Ferguson invited families along to a Pop-up Foodbank stall to provide essential food and household items for those most affected by the cost of living.
Local businesses including Scotmid, Iceland, Marks & Spencer's and Morrisons provided donations to support the Foodbank stall which provided an opportunity for families to meet with the school's Family Link Workers. Rachel and Christine work with a range of flexible services to meet the needs of pupils and their families, reducing barriers to learning and provide targeted support to parents/carers, including working with the young person 1:1 to support and set achievable targets surrounding attendance.
Also in attendance on the day was the Families and Young People's Service (FYPAS) who were on hand to give advice and support on the Scottish Child Payment, fuel grants and other cost of living advice.
Christine and Rachel are planning to run more pop up food banks within our pupil's catchment areas in the coming months.
Below is a statement from our Deputy Head Teacher Anne Marinello.
"We will always look for new and innovative ways to help our young people and their families in any way we can. Having our family link workers now in post allows us new ways of accessing and supporting families to remove barriers, to meet their needs and to continue the fantastic support that we continue to try to provide to each and every member of our school community.
As part of Challenge Poverty week, we are delighted with the efforts of our Family Link Workers to provide this pop- up Foodbank and to the local community for the donations received. We are well aware that with the increasing cost of living, families are struggling, we will always try to help support.
We work also in partnership with the FYPAS and advice shop and would encourage everyone to come along and meet our family link workers, meet Jacqui our link worker who can help apply for grants, look at benefits checkers or to see what other financial support is available and also to get a pack of goodies both food and also toiletries.
If you cannot make it along and need support - get in touch with us. We pride ourselves in ensuring we never stop; we can meet with you at a more convenient time to have a chat through your needs and the supports we have available.
We are a Community Learning Together."
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