THE PARISH of Winton, Moordown and Charminster (CRT) have provided over 250 emergency food parcels to vulnerable individuals at Christmas, thanks to funds from the Church Revitalisation Trust’s Love Your Neighbour campaign.

The Rev’d James Sharp, Pioneer Minister and Chair of Hope for Food, was invited to bid for match-funding from CRT at a moment’s notice.

Yet, through a network of organisations, he was able to quickly mobilise volunteers to put parcels together so that those most in need and vulnerable at Christmas had provisions such as food and sanitary items.

Children’s parcels were also provided with a teddy bear and other goodies.

James said: “Our work here in Winton, Moordown and Charminster is to partner with and across organisations and different faiths in order to ensure that the most in need are served – in particular over the winter months.

“For many years we have worked with Faithworks who have, for years, coordinated churches efforts across the statutory, voluntary and faith-based sectors which means that collaborative and joint working has a proven track record and efficacy.”

Just six days before Christmas, the church group received a grant for an additional £10,000 from the CRT via Lovechurch, Bournemouth.

The funding was to go some way to match fund the money, supplies and parcels that had already gone out from Hope for Food and from the parish.

The Parish worked with Richard Burnett at Westbourne Rotary Club whose experience with food logistics meant he was able to source food and sanitary items in just thirty-six hours, which amounted to over four tons of goods.

Parish staff and a small group student volunteers spent a day safely moving and packing, whilst adhering to social distancing rules, over two hundred and fifty male, female, child and student bags at St Alban's church just two days before Christmas.

Using the relationship and partnership with the parish’s friends within the Muslim community, Sister Tama from Poole Mosque was able to organise the logistics and delivery of the packages to hostels, sheltered housing, women's refuges and individual families.

Sister Tama leads the multi-faith ‘Shout Out’ emergency response team across BCP and through her network of volunteers, was able to guarantee that the packages got to people in time for Christmas.

James added: “Our experience over the years here in Winton, Moordown and Charminster has shown us that the fruit and depth of relationships, networking, shared resources and goodwill that comes from partnership right across the community is considerable, and significantly broadens the impact of what a single church community is able to achieve.

“The challenge remains, and the need is still considerable and we look forward to the continued impact of our work together.”