Agenda item

Presentation on Hyndburn Hub Step-Up to be given by Lyndsey Simms, Chief Executive of Hyndburn Leisure Trust.

Recommended                     -   To note the presentation.

A presentation on the Hyndburn Hub Step-Up was given by Lyndsey Simms, Chief Executive of Hyndburn Leisure Trust.  She reported that the Hub had been set up to respond to the national lockdown restrictions in March 2020 and had now gone through three phases (March to the end of July, August to October and now in new national restrictions).  She pointed out that many Councillors were involved in community engagements and that there had been a good response from volunteers and the community.  She explained that the Hub was a brand that was well trusted and had met the needs of the local community during the last 8 months and that the work they had done at the beginning now stood them in good stead.  She outlined the type of support that the Hub offered and indicated that they had a list of around 700 people who they supported.  She explained that personnel from the Leisure Trust and the Council had been redirected from their normal roles to help out with the Hub and that they had 40-50 voluntary groups also supporting the Hub.  As a result of working together a Food Solution Network had been formed which had been given grant funding and would help to co-ordinate the network and increase food capacity.  The Hub helped to direct people to appropriate welfare officers and linked up to charity shops.  She informed the meeting that there were issues of loneliness for some people and that the Hub had been the only contact they had with others and therefore referred to its importance in this respect.  She informed the Committee that it was their aim to find out why people where having to access food banks and to look at future needs. 

Members of the Committee submitted questions to the Officer in advance in relation to:

·       Support offered by the Hub to local foodbanks.  Are all foodbanks involved?

·       Challenges faced by the Hub since the recent national lockdown compared to the first.

·       Details of the criteria for receiving food parcels from the Hub and their distribution.  Can people from outside the area access support from the Hub?

·       Is there a role for the Hub post Covid?

Responses were given to the questions above as follows:

·       Foodbanks are working together with the number increased this time around.

·       The Hub faced faced less challenges this time around as the preparation work they had done at the beginning of the pandemic had placed them in good stead. 

·       She provided details of how people could access the food parcels and how people would be directed to other networks across Lancashire if they did not live in the borough of Hyndburn.

·       Consideration was being given to how this brand could continue elements of this work post pandemic including drawing in funding in from areas dealing with health and wellbeing.  She pointed out that it was not their intention to duplicate structures if they were already there, though. 

Members asked what was in place to cover the provision usually provided by the Hub over the Christmas period.  Lyndsey Simms reported that Christmas cards were being sent out enclosing details of different services that could be contacted, if required, over the Christmas period. 

Resolved                               -  That the report be noted.