A small Isle of Wight charity has been taking big steps to tackle financial insecurity and food poverty in one of the most disadvantaged areas in England.
Pan Together exists to support and provide a community hub for residents of Pan and Barton, which is one of England’s most deprived neighbourhoods – according to September 2019’s Indices of Deprivation.
Many people in the community face multiple challenges, with a shocking 35 per cent of children in the area growing up in poverty in 2019, compared to the England average of 17 per cent.
Pan Together began in 2007 and moved into its permanent home at the former Downside Middle School site, which it split with Barton Primary in 2014, being granted charity status in 2018.
The centre offers training in subjects, including maths and English, life skills such as cooking and CV building, supported internships, money wellness and management, assistance with form filling, helping with benefit and allowance claims and a whole range of other services, including a community larder.
Geoff Brodie, councillor of Pan and Barton since 2005, said that at one point, the charity had just £1,000 in the bank, but this has grown since, allowing for the appointment of community manager Rachel Thomson in June 2019, who joined from St Catherine’s School.
Cllr Brodie describes the charity he co-founded, as the “heart of Pan” and his proudest achievement.
“I wish we did not have to do it. I wish the local authorities could do what they should do.
“It is a damning indictment on society that we have to do this, but I am glad we do.”
Rachel said: “It is about being a trusted source of help and advice, and nobody is judgemental. We cannot do everything, but we can help to do this and that.”
Pan Together also offers parents and children from Barton Primary the chance to take part in cooking sessions, which is an important social interaction, and helps build confidence.
Rachel said: “One child could not even walk in, and now she bounces in joyfully, chatting away!”
Laura Byrne, an award-winning volunteer born and bred in Pan, told the County Press that she and the team had found jobs for residents as receptionists, cleaners, labourers, and dinner ladies, to name but a few.
She said the team helps all ages and, in recent months, had assisted people aged between 17 and 87 with IT skills.
Laura explained that people who work for the council or housing are perceived as less approachable to Pan and Barton residents, compared to volunteers at Pan Together, so the charity works as ‘the middleman’ between residents and officials.
Volunteers are passionate and often work different roles, Laura said.
“It’s the personal touch – we like to help people. We take them under our wing and support them however we can.”
The community larder opens every Tuesday and Friday between midday and 2pm to anyone in East Newport, with £5 granting visitors two carrier bags worth of items, which they choose themselves.
Between March 1, 2023, and the end of March 2024, Pan Together saw a 597 per cent increase in visitors to their community larder.
The main demographic is working families struggling to make ends meet, but the charity is seeing increasing numbers of elderly people who live on their own.
Rachel said: “Our mission is to improve the condition of life for local residents, and as long as funding remains, we will be able to continue this into the future. We will always try to help.
“In the best scenario, we would not have to run the larder because the world changes, but that is not an outcome we expect soon.
“No one should ever have to choose between children’s food, fuel and clothes.”
Low income is the root cause that leads East Newport residents to use the community larder, said Rachel, compounded by rising costs of food, fuel and council tax.
Last year, the charity noticed that use of the larder dropped, as people were able to turn off their central heating, but as the weather started getting colder, the numbers began to rise quickly.
Rachel said: “I think it is lovely and respectful that people feel like they don’t need to use it if they do not need to.”
The Pan Together larder has received lots of awards, including a recent Silver Award in the Vectis Radio Community Awards.
The charity also has a community cafe that is open every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to around 3pm.
It acts as a social hub which serves affordable food, with specials on Thursdays, and anyone is welcome.
The biggest challenge the charity faces is meeting demand, Rachel explained, and everything Pan Together does is only sustainable with funding.
The charity employs two full-time staff members and three part-time, and is very reliant on volunteers in the cafe, the larder and across the community centre.
Rachel said financial donations and stock for the larder are always welcome, as community support and anti-poverty services are becoming increasingly needed.
The larder mostly needs tinned goods, from beans to tuna and hot dogs, “anything that makes tasty nutritional food!” said Rachel.
It also needs cleaning and sanitary products and sweet treats, such as packets of biscuits.
Collection points for donations can be found at Mountbatten Hospice, Rookley Co-op and Cowes Co-op.
“People who aren’t struggling are very, very kind when the cost of living crisis is biting so hard for so many,” Rachel added.
House Rules
We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel