‘You can’t let kids go hungry’: Community group providing food for vulnerable residents awarded Rose of Northamptonshire

A community group in Northampton that has spent the last ten months providing residents in need with much-needed food has been rewarded with a Rose of Northamptonshire award.

Southern Quarter Development was set up in 2007 after it became clear that Far Cotton and Delapre residents wanted more community facilities.

The group secured funding for the Far Cotton Recreational Centre, which is usually used to host community groups and breakfast clubs for children. The group also runs Delapre Community Rooms in an old school building for the same purpose.

However, since the pandemic hit in March last year, for the most part, community groups have been unable to meet, so Southern Quarter Development turned their attention to providing food to those who needed it most.

Between March 24 and August 31, 2020, the team delivered more than 6,500 packed lunches for school children, more than 6,500 hot meals to the elderly, vulnerable or those isolating, as well as more than 600 food parcels for families who suddenly found themselves struggling to make ends meet.

Lesley Russell, director of the group, said: “It all started by Delapre Primary School asking if we could provide lunches for those who were entitled to free school meals at the start of the pandemic.

“Then it just grew and grew.

“There are loads of people out there who couldn’t get out and get food, so we were just getting more and more requests for help.

“It became obvious that there were a lot of people who had fallen through the Government’s system.

“We also did shopping for people and collected prescriptions and just general help. We did as much as we could.

“I can’t stand the thought of hungry children or the elderly going hungry.”

The group’s efforts were made possible by people in the community who were not struggling, who donated food and clothes and volunteered their time, as well as a grant from the Northamptonshire Community Foundation and help from other groups and organisations.

To show appreciation for the hard work the Southern Quarter Group continues to do, they were nominated for a Rose of Northamptonshire award, which celebrate groups and individuals who have gone above and beyond during the pandemic.

When Lesley received the news, she said she was ‘surprised but very pleased'.

She added: “As far as we were concerned, we were just doing what needed to be done. It was not for any greater glory or anything.

“Nobody in our area was doing what we were doing so we just did what was needed.

“You can’t let children go hungry.”

Although the group did not initially intend to keep providing packed lunches, hot meals and food parcels for this long, while the need is they will help wherever they can.

Lesley is still packing and delivering food parcels to anyone who gets in contact to say they need support.

The Rose of Northamptonshire awards, which are a joint venture from Northamptonshire County Council, the High Sherriff’s office and the Lord Lieutenant, received more than 300 nominations.

Below is a round-up of some of the groups and individuals Chronicle & Echo has featured. More will be added in the coming weeks.

-Northampton pub landlady who volunteers on Covid-19 wards

-Radio station that has been supporting the community

-Northamptonshire village pub landlady who has gone above and beyond

-Northampton school that set up a food bank

-Trade union that helped workers at a Northampton warehouse during a Covid-19 outbreak

-Northampton man who has cooked and delivered more than 5,500 hot meals for rough sleepers

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