Hitchin Christmas Hampers team awarded £750 by Herts County Council

Funds contributed from Hertfordshire County Councillor Locality Budgets have helped to support local organisations with funds to provide a community Christmas tree, hampers for vulnerable families, Christmas Turkey dinners via a foodbank, lunch for senior citizens, presents for the elderly and two parties for members of Mencap.

Each of the grants provide much needed funds for a range of initiatives and activities and are in line with the Hertfordshire County Council vision to help make a cleaner, greener and healthier Hertfordshire.

Locality Budgets continue to make a positive difference to Hertfordshire communities, with thousands of projects funded since the launch of the initiative in 2009. The following grants have a combined value of over £3,180 - including the Hitchin Christmas Hampers team being awarded £750

Hitchin Partnership CIO - Christmas Hampers in form of supermarket vouchers for families and individuals referred via professionals.

As Hitchin Nub News reported last year, the Hitchin Christmas Hampers team carry out excellent work in our community.

Ian Albert (Hitchin North, North Herts) has awarded a grant of £750 to help the Hitchin Christmas Hamper Team provide food and gifts to vulnerable families and individuals.

The food provision will be in the form of a supermarket voucher and aims to support 150 households in Hitchin and surrounding areas. Hampers are given on a referral basis from professional support agencies and schools. Vouchers will be distributed during week commencing 11 December.

Contacts involved include North Herts Family Centre, For Baby's Sake, NHS Mental Health Professionals, Schools, Family Support Works and Care Leavers. The vouchers will help to cover the cost of a meal on Christmas Day and will also cover store cupboard and household items during this time.

The number of vouchers provided will depend on the family size. The supermarket vouchers give families dignity to choose food suitable for their families and budget over the Christmas period. Gifts are also donated to all children aged 0-18 and these are delivered by volunteers.

Councillor Ian Albert of Hertfordshire County Council said: "Christmas is a special time. I am delighted to support this amazing project. The work that the partnership do will help to support at least 150 vulnerable households this Christmas in Hitchin and the surrounding villages with supermarket vouchers.

"The supermarket vouchers give families dignity to choose food suitable for their families and budget over the Christmas period."

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