Horsham Matters – much more than a foodbank

The cost-of-living crisis is affecting the entire community, but for some the stark reality of higher prices has meant turning to a foodbank for the first time in their lives.

Horsham Matters, the charity that supports those suffering hardship across the Horsham District, has seen demand for its services soar as food and energy bills have rocketed. In January 2022 the charity’s foodbanks provided food for 347 people – in January 2023 that figure had leapt to 788.

Demand is such that it has expanded its foodbank warehouse and foodbank at its community sup-port centre in Horsham and added extra foodbank sessions in central Horsham and from its mobile foodbank visiting outlying towns and villages in the district. The mobile hub (see photo) stops at Billingshurst every Monday from 10am to 11am at the Library car park. The full timetable of areas is available at www.horsham-matters.org.uk

For those unable to afford to pay for energy it can provide fuel vouchers and in the first six weeks of the year supplied 37 – that compares with 114 for the whole of 2022.

However, the charity offers much more than crisis support. Its aim is to look at the wider health, social and economic factors that lead to poverty and help put those turning to the charity on a path to financial stability. To do this it provides free advice on household budgeting, debt and benefits checks, advocacy as well as counselling and a befriending service.

Staff and volunteers are committed to making access to support as easy and as dignified as possible and anyone facing hardship is encouraged to contact them. If you are in need of support please call 0300 124 0204, option 1, to find out how to access the foodbank, fuel vouchers or advice, or e-mail info@horsham-matters.org.uk.

To make a financial donation to Horsham Matters’ Helping Those in Crisis campaign, please go to www.justgiving.com/campaign/ helpingthoseincrisis

Horsham Matters services: Emergency food and fuel vouchers

• Toy bank

• Preloved school uniform

• Free household budgeting, debt and benefits advice

• Essential household goods for those previously homeless and newly housed

• A drop-in Connecting Café open to all

• Counselling and befriending service

• Advocacy

For more information about Horsham Matters please go to www.horsham-matters.org.uk

Gill Davies, Trusts and Foundations Officer, Horsham Matters

What has been the most exciting celebration you have been part of? A Birthday, wedding, Anniversary, reunion perhaps. The anticipation and then the day itself becomes a gift that tucks into that treasure trove of memory. Something to remind you of good times with people you care about. As a nation we have the Coronation this month of May.

Households and communities joining together, focused around a moment of history, and finding ways to celebrate

The Bible encourages us to live life to the full with a joy that is offered as a gift to bless our days, a feature of faith. Jesus himself says:

“I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.” Bible, John 10, verse 10, Good News Translation

How can we make joy part of our everyday as well as special occasions? Finding such happiness and joy can seem impossible in the face of suffering and situations. Yet when you look in the Bible joy is frequently mentioned. A joy that comes from the depth of God’s ever-present love alongside us into eternity. This is not a pretend, forced attitude of mind but a gift to be received. Have you met people in your life that seem to have that foundation within them whatever life brings?

I once was given the challenge of keeping a ‘Joy Journal’. This involved keeping a book where you recorded snippets of those everyday joys and happiness that days brought. Memories of joy in words, pictures, souvenirs. It was to be kept somewhere to hand, perhaps your bedside table to where you could flip through and be reminded of joy. How about trying that challenge?

Enjoy the Coronation celebrations and look out for joy each day.

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