The unprecedented jump in the cost of living means that many Jersey families may face a stark decision this Christmas – whether to eat or heat their homes.
Charities have already seen a growing number of Islanders turning to food banks, including those who work in the care and hospitality industries. It’s prompted Jersey charity, Caring Cooks, to launch a campaign to provide food and fuel vouchers for our Island’s most vulnerable, in partnership with Channel Islands Coop and supported by Island Energy, and Jersey Electricity.
To be able to fund the vouchers, Caring Cooks urgently needs donations and is calling on Islanders to consider those in the community for whom Christmas and the winter period is going to be particularly tough.
Yvonne Corbin, CEO, Caring Cooks of Jersey urged people to support the campaign. “Everybody has seen the huge hikes in the cost of everyday items, food, fuel, rent and mortgage payments. For those families already struggling to make ends meet, this is a crisis that will result in some tough choices being made which could impact the health and wellbeing of children.
“This is a real concern for us as a charity and we feel we are facing our biggest challenges yet. We are already hearing of anecdotal evidence of people choosing not to cook home-made healthy meals as it’s simply too expensive to turn on the cooker. Some families have cut back on their food purchases drastically, and this has long term nutritional and health impacts. At this time of giving, please consider helping a family less fortunate than yourselves.”
The new Caring Cooks campaign, follows on from last year’s ‘From our House to Yours’ initiative, which provided 250 food hampers to needy families over the festive period. This year, there are increased numbers of Islanders seeking charity support just to obtain the basics. The UK Consumer Council said that the number of households there unable to afford both food and energy costs, has risen three-fold in the last year.
Carl Winn, Head of Community and Sustainability at the Channel Islands’ Coop said: “As a community retailer, we have seen and heard for ourselves first-hand the pressures that islanders are facing every day. It is in our Society’s values to help and support our community where we can, so having the opportunity to work closely with charities such as Caring Cooks Jersey means that together, we can make a real difference and be there at the forefront of helping our community when it’s needed the most.’
Islanders are being asked to donate to the appeal which will buy food and fuel vouchers for families. You can donate online or contact yvonne@caringcooksofjersey.com
- Diet plays a crucial role in the healthy development and prevention of ill health in children.
- There has been an increase this year in respiratory illnesses and Strep A cases in young children in the UK which has been put down to lower immunity following Covid.
- Jersey food banks have seen an increase in the number of employed islanders seeking help.
You can donate to Caring Cooks here
