"Fantastic news": council abandons community pantries funding cut
County Hall has made a U-turn on a decision cutting funding for Isle of Wight community pantries, described as 'fantastic news" for those dependent on them.
Household Support Fund 7 (HSF) investment worth £295,000 has been allocated for the support hubs in a revised decision by cabinet member Cllr Debbie Andre, following a call-in of a prior decision denounced as 'cruel and heartless'.
HSF 7 is a £742 million government funding package to support vulnerable households, distributed through unitary and county councils.
Cllr Geoff Brodie, with the support of eight other councillors, called-in Cllr Andre's previous April 24 decision – a delivery plan allocating £1,994,369.25 in Isle of Wight HSF.
Read more: Community pantries funding cut branded "cruel and heartless"
They asked why community pantries were facing a 46 per cent funding cut despite overall Whitehall funding 'only being reduced by 12 per cent'.
The council's revised Isle of Wight HSF delivery plan supports a range of initiatives including £530,000 in community grants, £400,000 in supermarket vouchers and a utility, food and white goods support scheme worth £350,000.
Cllr Brodie described the updated decision as 'fantastic news for all those dependent on support from community pantries and larders'.
Read more: Isle of Wight community pantries funding could be slashed
Monique Gallop, a coordinator for Cowes Community Pantry, welcomed the change of plan, adding that the cut would have 'taken people's dignity away'.
She said: 'It (the cut) would be huge. Between all the pantries, I'd say we have at least 300 people visit a week. Out of that 300, that's going to be at least a minimum of probably 900 people a week that survive off the food from the pantries.
'It would have had a dramatic effect.'
The Isle of Wight Council have been approached for comment.
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