Holiday Hunger Scheme

steveL · July 16, 2017, 01: PM

Food poverty grants approved

Published Wednesday, 5th July 2017
EIGHTEEN organisations have been awarded grants to help ensure children in Hartlepool don't go hungry during the school holidays.

They are set to share a pot of money made available by Hartlepool Council to help statutory, voluntary, community and charitable organisations provide food to young people as part of their summer activity programmes.

The "Filling the Gap" scheme is designed to replace the term-time free school meals that many children receive.

Councillor Alan Clark, Chair of the Council's Children's Services Committee, said: "This is an attempt to fill the gap that occurs when schools are closed at holiday times and there is no free school meals provision.

"This shows how the Council is determined to stand up for the town's most hard-pressed families with children despite the huge financial pressure it is under following years of Government budget cuts."

Last year, the Council's "Holiday Hunger" pilot scheme involved it working in partnership with Hartlepool Foodbank to put together and distribute food parcels from three venues in the town, as well as providing financial support to organisations to run their own anti-food poverty schemes.

Following evaluation of the pilot scheme, it was decided that the greatest impact would be achieved this year by directing all available money to local organisations.

The 18 grant recipients are: the Asylum Seeker and Refugee Group, Be Crafty, Belle Vue Sports Centre, Changing Futures North East, Grange Primary School, Harbour Support Services, Hartlepool Action Recovery Team, Hartlepool Carers, Hartlepool United Community Sports Foundation, Kilmarnock Road Children and Young People Family Resource Centre, Owton Fens Community Association, Positive Parents Group, Salaam Community Centre, St Aidan's and St Columba's Church, the Rifty Youth Project, West View Project, Wharton Trust and Hartlepool Youth Service.

Their applications were considered and approved by a panel that included Councillor Clark, Councillor Christopher Akers-Belcher, the Leader of Hartlepool Council, and Councillor Kevin Cranney, the Deputy Leader of the Council.

The Council has made a total of £42,000 available – up from £25,000 last year – and the 18 grants approved total just over £35,000. Of the remaining cash, £3,000 is to be given to the Children's Food Trust to provide cooking skills training to at least ten of the participating groups. The rest is to be rolled over to support potential future schemes, possibly at Christmas and Easter.

Press release pr25753. July 5 2017.
Issued by Steve Hilton, Senior Public Relations Officer, on (01429) 284065.

Pot Noodles and free burgers all round . . .

Notice that the Food Bank has been cold shouldered this year after it criticised last year's scheme because it did not believe the benefit was going to the right people (amongst other things)

fred c · July 16, 2017, 04: PM

Cllr Alan (I took the money.... then realised I'm up for re-election in May) Clarke said.....

"This shows how the Council is determined to stand up for the town's most hard-pressed families with children despite the huge financial pressure it is under following years of Government budget cuts."

It stuck out like a sore thumb on the night that 'Government Cuts' didn't enter Clarkes and his LabTor coalition comrades minds, virtually no debate on the motion and from the plebs seats, it looked like a mini Mexican Wave by the CABCabl.

No surprise that Lying Ste's place was selected........ The Rifty Project..... according to Paul The (Big Fibber) Beck his Mayoral Charity will be supporting 2 Charities.......... MacMillan Cancer Support....... and ........ The Rifty Project............... Except, The Rifty Project isn't actually a 'Charity', The Charity Commission have No Record of The Rifty Project.

Funnny old Mayoral game in Hartlepoo init.......l......... Barclay next year....... OMFG........when will Raymondo get his chance ?

Hartlepudlion · July 16, 2017, 06: PM

How come there were NO opposition Councillors in the panel? Not even a back bench Labour Councillor! Not only the tips smell in Hartlepool.

jeffh · July 16, 2017, 09: PM

Quote from: Hartlepudlion on July 16, 2017, 06: PM
How come there were NO opposition Councillors in the panel? Not even a back bench Labour Councillor! Not only the tips smell in Hartlepool.

We don't know whether there was or there wasn't - the release seems to have a political bias as it says that the panel included the named councillors - Steve Hilton may have decided not to include all the councillors for whatever reason

Inspector Knacker · July 17, 2017, 08: AM

Just as a matter of interest, what's the geographical spread of these 'suppliers'. We wouldn't want too many in the same location. I'd also expect them to be in convenient locations to be easily accessible to those who don't have access to personal transport.
A list of locations would be very helpful.

steveL · July 17, 2017, 12: PM

Quote from: jeffh on July 16, 2017, 09: PM
Quote from: Hartlepudlion on July 16, 2017, 06: PM
How come there were NO opposition Councillors in the panel? Not even a back bench Labour Councillor! Not only the tips smell in Hartlepool.

We don't know whether there was or there wasn't - the release seems to have a political bias as it says that the panel included the named councillors - Steve Hilton may have decided not to include all the councillors for whatever reason

Last year, only 3 people were named Cranney, Clark and SAB. This year, Christopher has taken the place of Stephen; that's the only change. In neither case were any opposition councillors asked to be involved.

They've up'd the money made available by £25,000 and knocked out any food bank involvement; apparently they thought the whole thing was a bit of a shambles

Inspector Knacker · July 17, 2017, 01: PM

Will all the chosen recipients be independent of any connection with elected representatives?

fred c · July 17, 2017, 01: PM

No........ The Rifty Project is Lying Ste's little baby.......

https://hartlepool.fsd.org.uk/kb5/hartlepool/fsd/event.page?id=DY6FIxk70pQ

Interesting to note, 'The Rifty' is open on Tuesdays and Fridays 17.00hrs to 19.00hrs = 4hours per week

Quite how that works for hungry kids is a bit of a mystery..... unless of course It's 2 day a week Supper Club....... lets face it, it is another handout to SAB, a bit like Paul Becks aka The big fibbers Mayoral 'Charity' donation to the Rifty Project...albeit, it is not a charity

Lucy Lass-Tick · July 17, 2017, 02: PM

Know it has been said before, but surely schools have a register of children who receive free school meals? Why can't vouchers be given to the parents of qualifying children? Vouchers could be redeemable at designated outlets; the range available could even reflect a balanced/healthy diet.

steveL · July 17, 2017, 02: PM

I have it on good authority that Paul Beck has never legally been Hartlepool Mayor . . . if fact, I have irrefutable proof that he has never legally been Paul Beck. His real name is Paul Scheister, the notorious fondue smuggler from the east end of London.

Lucy Lass-Tick · July 17, 2017, 02: PM

Quote from: steveL on July 17, 2017, 02: PM
I have it on good authority that Paul Beck has never legally been Hartlepool Mayor . . . if fact, I have irrefutable proof that he has never legally been Paul Beck. His real name is Paul Scheister, the notorious fondue smuggler from the east end of London.

... and we all know how sloppy fondue can be ... maybe that's why he's always washing his hands of things ...

Inspector Knacker · July 17, 2017, 03: PM

Quote from: fred c on July 17, 2017, 01: PM
No........ The Rifty Project is Lying Ste's little baby.......

https://hartlepool.fsd.org.uk/kb5/hartlepool/fsd/event.page?id=DY6FIxk70pQ

Interesting to note, 'The Rifty' is open on Tuesdays and Fridays 17.00hrs to 19.00hrs = 4hours per week

Quite how that works for hungry kids is a bit of a mystery..... unless of course It's 2 day a week Supper Club....... lets face it, it is another handout to SAB, a bit like Paul Becks aka The big fibbers Mayoral 'Charity' donation to the Rifty Project...albeit, it is not a charity

Interesting, so will the opening hours increase to meet demand?
As this operates from a community centre what are the running costs for the full package, rent, electricity etc.?
Why wasn't this put out to tender for set locations with a voucher scheme.?
What exactly are qualifications of the councillors regarding the selection process?
On what basis was the funding increased, what was the guidelines used to justify the increase.?
Is there a set menu across the hoard for an healthy choice of foods?

fred c · July 17, 2017, 04: PM

We have more chance of finding extra terrestrial life 'out there' than we are finding how this bunch of self servers operate.........

Another question that Mike Hill could ask of our LabTor Coalition group .....

Inspector Knacker · July 17, 2017, 06: PM

I'm assuming the panel consisted of the three 'Wise Men', so what scrutiny applies to these decisions.
I know there'll be no explanation forthcoming, but once we had local journalists to ask these questions for us. Now our local ad sheet has as much relevance to events oh Hartlepool as the Germans have to cricket.

jeffh · July 17, 2017, 06: PM

Quote from: Riddler5 on July 17, 2017, 06: PM
I'm assuming the panel consisted of the three 'Wise Men', so what scrutiny applies to these decisions.
I know there'll be no explanation forthcoming, but once we had local journalists to ask these questions for us. Now our local ad sheet has as much relevance to events oh Hartlepool as the Germans have to cricket.

I am sure that the Audit & Governance Committee will have looked at this