Stricken North Sea tanker gives food banks a boost
Volunteers from the St Mary Magdalene Church food bank in Gorleston, Norfolk, were invited to the Stena Immaculate cargo vessel, which is docked at the Port of Great Yarmouth, to collect frozen meat and fish.
The vessel was towed into the port on 11 April after it was involved in a collision in the North Sea.
The Reverend Matthew Price, from St Mary Magdalene Church, said: "This has to rank up there with one of the craziest donations. It's not often someone rings you up to say they have a cubic metre of meat."
The vessel, which had been transporting jet fuel for the US military, had been travelling to Hull from a Greek port when it was struck by Portuguese-flagged Solong on 10 March.
It was towed to Great Yarmouth in April for inspection, where it has remained ever since.
Mr Price said he received a call from the crew on the ship who wanted to offload food that was meant to sustain them while at sea.
"We had no clue what it was going to be," he said.
The food bank said the donation of meat and fish will sustain it for several months.
The organisation runs a weekly community meal on Tuesday for about 60 adults and Mr Price said attendees will see beef and oxtail soup become part of the menu.
"One of the biggest costs for sustaining our meal is meat... that will keep us going for a long time... it's completely random but we were extremely grateful," he added.
Two volunteers and the food bank's chef transported the donations off the ship's gang plank on 15 May.
Mr Price said: "It was tragic what happened to that ship and it's great some good can come from it.
"It's really touching to think all the various connections that were made to make this happen. It makes it more special."
He added the Norwich Foodbank had first received items from the boat and it had put the vessel's master in contact with the church.
The master of the Stena Immaculate has been contacted for comment.
Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Oil tanker arrives in port after North Sea crash
Tanker to be towed to Great Yarmouth after crash
Tanker owners praise 'exceptionally brave crew'
St Mary Magdalene Church Gorleston
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Homeless charity closes following funding dispute
Homeless people face losing their accommodation in a town after a funding dispute between the charity which housed them and a council. West Northamptonshire Council said in a statement that Northampton Association for Accommodation for Single Homeless (NAASH), which supported accommodation for about 200 people, had closed. NAASH has said council funding has been held up because the authority has disputed the "validity" of housing benefit claims made on behalf of clients. The Reform UK-controlled council said the charity must "follow the guidelines" and said it was "taking steps to support" affected tenants. 'Homelessness risk' NAASH services director Theresa Kelly said the organisation supported "some of Northampton's most vulnerable people" after they were referred to them directly by the council. She said her team believed they had "fully complied" with housing benefit regulations. "This is not the first time essential services like NAASH have been forced out by West Northamptonshire Council's cost-cutting measures," said Ms Kelly. "Each closure leaves vulnerable people once again facing the very real risk of homelessness." NAASH, which has supported homeless people since 2000, is the landlord of several supported accommodation properties. It does not own its housing and mostly rents rooms in houses of multiple occupation. 'Acting proactively' The council said each tenant's case was being looked at individually so that "tailored support" could be offered. The authority said NAASH's closure followed a "long period of discussion and negotiation" relating to housing benefit claims. Charlie Hastie, the council's cabinet member for housing, said: "We are actively engaging with other providers to ensure there is support available to help residents through this difficult time. "We recognise the deep anxiety this situation causes for people with complex health and personal challenges. "We as a council have already made a commitment to reduce homelessness and its wider impact, and we are acting proactively to address this." The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which administers housing benefit, previously said it could not comment on the case. "Local authorities decide if a customer is eligible for the benefit, applying DWP rules to ensure the right support is going to the right place," a spokesperson said. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Related stories Homeless charity fears closure over funding dispute Homeless charity prepares to open self-funded cafe Related internet links NAASH West Northamptonshire Council Department for Work and Pension
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
D-Day veteran celebrates 100th birthday at regimental museum
A D-Day veteran has celebrated his 100th birthday at the museum of his old regiment in Aberdeen after receiving his coveted message from the King. Jim Glennie turned 100 on Tuesday and a number of his family and friends gathered at The Gordon Highlanders Museum where he volunteers. Mr Glennie met the King earlier this year when he toured the Aberdeen museum, with Charles praising him as a 'great example to us all'. As an 18-year-old private, he was part of the invasion force which landed at Sword Beach on D-Day. He was later wounded in action and taken prisoner, spending the remainder of the war in Stalag IV-B. He and other soldiers made their own way back to Allied lines when their German guards deserted them as the Russians approached from the east. When Mr Glennie returned to Turriff in Aberdeenshire after the war, he became a welder. France has awarded him the Legion d'Honneur and earlier this year he was awarded the British Empire Medal in the King's Honours list. Friends and family gathered at the museum on Tuesday to celebrate, singing 'happy birthday' to the veteran. He was formally presented with his British Empire Medal by Aberdeen's Lord-Lieutenant, who is also the city's Lord Provost, David Cameron. The former soldier had earlier received his message from the King. John McLeish, chief executive of the The Gordon Highlanders Museum, said Mr Glennie was in good spirits. He told the PA news agency: 'Jim Glennie has volunteered at The Gordon Highlanders Museum for over 30 years. 'His military service is well documented but less well-known is the commitment and enthusiasm he brings to his volunteer role every Tuesday, week in week out. 'He is an important member of our team and, at the age of 100, his personality and generosity of spirit add to the wonderful camaraderie exhibited by team members. 'Watching Jim engaging with museum visitors is a sight to behold. He makes a regular museum visit very special indeed and, ultimately, he makes people smile! 'There were lots of smiles at the Museum today as we celebrated Jim's 100th birthday.' Charles toured the regimental museum in January, and upon seeing the King, Mr Glennie greeted him cheerfully and said 'long time no see!' The King told him about a portrait of Mr Glennie he had been shown at the museum, saying 'it looked terrific' and promising to send him a message when he turns 100 in August. The King said: 'You're a great example to us all, if I may say so, you really are.'
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
I was working three jobs. A benefits calculator saved my family
Single parent Esther is one of 900,000 people who have discovered they are missing out on a benefit this year alone. A single mum who was in such financial difficulty she feared social services would take her children into care has praised the "life-changing" hack that revealed she was owed thousands of pounds in unclaimed benefits. Esther, a single mum from south west London, was juggling three jobs to support her three young sons — one child and a set of twins — aged eight and six. Two have complex needs and are neurodiverse. The single mum told Yahoo News she was pushed to breaking point, and was signed off work by her doctor. Left without a working washing machine over winter and dealing with skyrocketing heating bills, Esther was then told about charity Turn2Us's benefits calculator, a tool where she could find out if she was entitled to any financial help from the government. She then discovered she'd been missing out on child benefit, as well as the carer's element of universal credit — allowing her to pay off mounting debts and purchase a new washing machine. She has spoken to Yahoo News to highlight the "hope and dignity" the benefits payments gave her, she said the money has made it easier for her to juggle the challenges of work with caring responsibilities, challenge the stigma of claiming benefits, and how the right support allowed her to be more present for her children. 'It makes you feel like you've failed as a parent' The single parent told Yahoo News she wants everyone to try out the benefits calculator as it's "in everyone's interest" for families like hers to receive the right support. Esther said she does not want families to "reach breaking point" like she did, and get help as soon as they need it. "When I came across the benefits calculator, I was kind of making ends meet, like a lot of people do, until you just can't any more," Esther told Yahoo News. "I was working for more than full-time and looking after my children, two of which have complex needs. I was working the equivalent of 50 hours a week. "I was depressed, but I felt like I had a very practical problem causing my distress – I didn't have enough money and I was very tired. "There is nothing more depressing than being in a situation where you feel like you can't provide. It makes you feel like you've failed as a parent," she added. 'It wasn't just money - it gave my family hope and dignity' While her GP had suggested she looked at the benefits calculator, it was when her children's social worker mentioned it in a meeting that she took a look. "In December, the heating bills went up. The boys don't understand putting on clothes even though the house was freezing, the boiler broke, the food bank vouchers weren't working and the social worker came into my home and was like this is not conducive," she told Yahoo News. "At one point, I honestly thought the social worker would take my children away because I was worried I couldn't meet their needs. "I said that I had been put in an impossible situation. The social worker then brought up the benefits calculator." Esther filled out the online form, which calculated whether she was entitled to any support after asking her some questions about her income, rental payments and family. 'The calculator is very very straightforward. I think benefits can seem intimidating but the calculator just asks you questions even at certain stages and justifies why it's asking you that question," she told Yahoo News. "It's quick, it literally took me two and a half minutes. It doesn't cost anything and you lose nothing from trying." It was then Esther discovered she was entitled to child benefit, which she had never claimed, as well as the carers element of universal credit. "I was not just entitled to these payments, but some were backdated," she said. "I didn't realise I'd be eligible for child benefit, or that my role parenting my children with complex needs went beyond what a parent normally does. "Backdating means a lot. It meant I was able to pay debts, I didn't have to survive with a broke washing machine, which I associated as a luxury." Now, Esther is urging everyone to check what they're entitled to through the benefits calculator. "It wasn't just money; it gave my family hope, dignity, and the basics my children need. I tell everyone: you never know who might need that lifeline," she added. How do I check if I'm entitled to support? Benefits calculator provider Turn2Us said it has helped 900,000 people in the last year through its benefits calculator, who claimed more than £9.6bn in benefits support they didn't realise they were entitled to. The charity has urged families to check the benefits calculator, highlighting that millions in vital benefits support goes unclaimed each year. 'Our data shows that there is support available for many, but all too often it's difficult to find," Anna Stevenson, Benefits Expert at Turn2us, said. "The Turn2us Benefits Calculator cuts through the confusion. It's fast, free and completely anonymous. Just a few minutes could help you uncover extra cash you didn't even know you could claim. "We know it's tough right now, especially with back-to-school costs stacking up and household bills climbing; don't wait until things get harder - check now and ease the pressure on your family'. A DWP spokesperson said: 'Millions of people rely on our welfare system every year and it is vital that it can be accessed by all who need it. 'We promote benefits through public communications campaigns and provide funding for the free Help to Claim service provided by Citizens Advice to support people to make a claim. 'Alongside this, we are fixing the broken welfare system we inherited so it genuinely supports those who can work into employment, while ensuring there is always a safety net for the most vulnerable.'
