12-15 calls for help with housing a week in West Berkshire

West Berkshire’s homeless charity says it is getting 12 to 15 calls a week, with people desperate for somewhere to live.

The charity met with Newbury MP Lee Dillon recently around the definition of ‘vulnerable’ and Mr Dillon agreed to take it up with the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Raynor.

In Wales and Scotland, vulnerable is when you are homeless.

This is not the case in England and West Berkshire Homeless considers that the law needs changing in England.

West Berkshire Foodbank says it was exceptionally busy over Christmas, sending out 22,323 meals to residents in West Berkshire.

Each household received a standard food parcel, an additional 12 Christmas items such as Christmas cake, selection box, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pulling crackers etc.

The foodbank also shared supermarket vouchers with every household to allow them to purchase a fresh Christmas dinner.

But despite a good response to its appeals over Christmas, the foodbank says it is now in need of more donations and has been forced to buy in some supplies.

Greenham Trust says there is around £56,000 left in the joint Cost of Living Fund between it and West Berkshire Council.

The trust reported that two grants have been awarded from the joint Cost of Living Fund for Age Concern’s Fairclose Centre (meal subsidy for seven months) and Berkshire Healthcare Trust (Winter Essential Packs).

Greenham Trust added £12,000 from its Sleep Out event in the autumn.