Thousands of meals

Thousands of meals help locals across Bristol & South West

Around 52,000 meals have been donated to families and individuals in need across the South West thanks to members of a regional co-operative.

Southern Co-op is saying thank you to its members and customers who have used its food or funeral services and enabled funds to be donated to FareShare South West. The total donated to the charity is currently more than £19,000.

The praise comes during Co-op Fortnight which kicked off on Monday 21 June and will see co-operatives across the country celebrate the impact their members have had on society.

FareShare South West, based in Bristol, is one of a network of 21 similar centres located across the country and currently reaches organisations and families across Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Devon and Cornwall.

Holly Bramble, Southern Co-op's Community and Campaign Co-ordinator, said: "As a co-operative, every time someone buys their groceries from us or gets support from one of our funeral homes, it could be adding to the pot of money which gets donated to charities.

“Over the last year, FareShare has become a name that is instantly recognisable as a charity which has helped so many people struggling during the pandemic. Its networks have made such a difference. Thank you to our customers and members who have enabled this support of such an incredible cause.”

International Day of Co-ops falls at the end of Co-op Fortnight on Saturday 3 July.

In Bristol, one community interest company supported by FareShare South West is Bristol Community Cafés - an idea thought up by Michelle Ford and her mother Gillian Flower on a mission to end the loneliness and isolation in the area. Bristol Community Cafés has three cafes around Bristol, providing food to between 30 and 90 people every single week. They serve up the warmest welcome along side food and a chance to socialise. For many, it might be the only time they get a proper, home cooked hot meal each week.

Michelle said: "We'll use anything and turn it into something. The food from FareShare South West means we can produce hot meals for everyone and charge very little - and still have money for extra treats and special foods."

People at the cafés have seen a lot of change in their regulars since they first started visiting. Michelle recalls one gentleman, Morris, who used to be incredibly shy.

Michelle said: "Now though, he's the life and soul here - he's always dressing up, getting us laughing along with him. It's amazing the change in him."

To find out more about Bristol Community Cafes click the image above.

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New cars for lifesaving charity will allow them to reach up to 50 more patients a year

New cars for lifesaving charity will allow them to reach up to 50 more patients a year

Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) has recently introduced three new critical care cars to their response vehicles, alongside their helicopter.

The cars were purchased thanks to a oneoff grant from the Department of Health and Social Care in 2019, and will allow their crew to respond to more people in urgent need across the region.

The charity’s team of Critical Care Doctors and Specialist Paramedics respond to people suffering from life-threatening illness or injury, bringing hospital-level care direct to where it’s needed most.

In 2020, the charity’s critical care cars were more important than ever in keeping their service running, as COVID-19 restrictions meant that their helicopter had to be decontaminated after each mission. They responded to over 70% of their 1,726 missions last year by car, ensuring that those in need could still receive urgent care.

The cars carry exactly the same specialist equipment as the helicopter and allow the crew to get to the scene of a patient quickly. In instances where a patient needs transporting to hospital, the air ambulance crew will accompany them in a land ambulance whilst continuing their critical care on route. Having critical care cars also enables the team to respond to incidents in all weather conditions, when the helicopter may be unsafe to fly in.

Previously, the charity operated two critical care cars that were becoming increasingly unreliable and unfit for purpose, having done many miles since their introduction.

By adding a third car to their fleet, they will now be able to bring their lifesaving care to up to 50 more patients a year.

CEO Anna Perry, said: “Although GWAAC goes to around 2,000 incidents each year, there are even more people in our local communities who could benefit from our service. By adding a third critical care car to our fleet, we can deploy our clinicians to more people who need our expert skills and lifesaving care.”

As a charity, they respond to over five critically-ill patients a day on average, many of which are by critical care car. Despite this, a recent survey carried out by the charity showed that 66% of people living in their region didn’t expect or didn’t know that they responded by car as well as helicopter.

To find out more about GWAAC and their critical care car response by clicking the image above.