Colchester Foodbank is the busiest foodbank in Essex providing three-day packages of nutritionally balanced food to about 1,000 people in crisis across Colchester a month. Staff and volunteers also provide additional support to help people resolve the challenges they face. The Foodbank’s running costs are raised locally and it relies on the support of the community to help end hunger. To find out how you can support the work of Colchester Foodbank please visit www.colchester.foodbank.org.uk/give-help.
Colchester Foodbank’s Annual General Meeting has a 4pm for 4.30pm start till 6pm on Wednesday 23rd September. The Keynote speaker is The Right Reverend Roger Morris, Bishop of Colchester. He will be addressing the issue of child poverty and when he spoke at our aGM two years ago his comments gained national press interest.
This will be the first use of the Cooperative bank’s Dome Room, a newly refurbished community space, where key participants will gather with appropriate social distance and others, including the public, are invited to join via Zoom or on the phone. At Colchester Foodbank’s AGM, we will launch our Annual Report, giving details of our activities over the last year including our considerable expansion in response to Covid19.
Colchester-based Big Picture Charity Films have worked closely alongside Colchester Foodbank to produce a short film celebrating their tenth anniversary. Big Picture are the UK’s only charity that exists to support the work of the third sector through the medium of film and the production team were delighted to work with the staff from the Foodbank on this project. Rather than it being a potted history of the charity and how it has evolved over the past decade, the film instead tells the story of exactly where the Foodbank is now and how the public can support this amazing organisation. Filming took place over the course of a number of months at the Foodbank premises in Moorside, at their newly acquired unit in Dedham, at Waitrose on Cowdray Avenue and on the streets of the town itself. The film crew also undertook a drone flight from Castle Park to show parts of the town from the air.
Although based locally, Big Picture Charity Films work throughout the UK for a wide-ranging number of charities, both large and small but they were particularly delighted to partner with Colchester Foodbank on this project. Production Manager Maria Read said, “Whilst working for other local charities, we’ve seen on so many occasions the tremendous work that Colchester Foodbank do in our community, so to be able to produce this film for them was a wonderful opportunity for us as a charity to work closely to produce a film that celebrates what they stand for, yet also lets people know how they can help, at a time when help is needed more than ever.”
Michael Beckett, Chief Officer of Colchester Foodbank said, “We have put children’s access to healthy food at the heart of what we do. The Covid-19 emergency has exposed local levels of food insecurity and health inequalities, with children and families disproportionately affected. It is also now clear that schools are a lifeline for many of our most disadvantaged families, providing children with access to healthy, nutritious food, whether in term time or during the holidays. It is more important than ever that children are ensured the best start in life and have access to fresh, nutritious and culturally appropriate food. Our Children are counting on the Foodbank and our partner agencies to do our best and we will all do what we can to be part of the solution.”
Rev Andrew Fordyce, Chair of Colchester Foodbank charity said, “One of the incredibly humbling aspects of Foodbank is how I continue to be dazzled and in awe of those who work and volunteer. As a Nation went into Lockdown our Foodbank continued to work hard and adapt in the best way possible to a National crisis that overlaid individuals and families going through their own Crisis of Food poverty.
“As we gather for our AGM in person and online – we have so much to be grateful for. My contribution is to simply say thank you to everyone for all you have done! (A video is coming out soon that will also say thank you!). One final comment I want to make is that if you have had to step back from the Foodbank family due to keeping safe for your health – you are still part of the Foodbank family and we respect your reasons!
“The last 12 months has seen some exciting growth and a greater dispersal of Foodbank satellites throughout North Essex. I remain, humbled and dazzled and very grateful. Reading a Trussell Trust release today – we note they anticipate the highest level of demand the Foodbank network has ever known. This would equate to 6 emergency parcels given out every second across the Trussell Trust network this winter. As much as we rightly celebrate the last 12 months the next will provide just as much of a challenge!”
You are invited to join us at Colchester Foodbank’s Annual General Meeting on the phone or by Zoom on Wednesday from 4PM for 4.30pm start. We have done from 4pm so you can have the time you might need to fiddle with technology to get the signal right for you.
To join us on Zoom follow the link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6798023000?pwd=bTlCNHU5aWJnWDdEL3lxc2VYR1ZVQT09
Meeting ID: 679 802 3000
Password: Light
Passcode: 198460
Or find your local phone number and join us on the phone: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/keievdyXNZ
For this to work, your telephone will need a hash key, which looks like this: #
1. Dial 0800 358 2817
This gets you to Zoom switchboard. It will ask you for the meeting ID.
2. Type in the meeting ID, then press #
Our meeting ID is 679 802 3000#
It will then ask you for your participant ID.
3. Don’t type anything. After a moment, it will realise this and tell you to just press #.
Press #
It will then ask you for the meeting passcode/password
4. Type in the meeting passcode/password. If you look at the invitation, you will see two. One has letters and numbers, the other has just numbers. If you are on a smartphone you can type either one. If you are on an ordinary phone (landline), type the one that is just numbers, followed by #.
Our AGM passcode is 198460#
You will then be in the waiting room of the meeting (Zoom will tell you this and tell you that you can’t talk or be heard till your host lets you in.)
5. Just wait. We will let you in, then you will be able to join us!
