Local charity providing hope for those in need

A local charity which provides emergency food hampers to people in need received a visit from the mayor this week.

Councillor Wesley Fitzgerald met with Hampers of Hope at its Hope Centre on Ringstead Drive in order to find out more about its work to help relieve poverty in the area.

Hampers of Hope was set up by Cristel Berridge three years ago as a small food bank, run by a few local volunteers. The Christian charity still runs a food bank which delivers emergency food to people in crisis with over 40 referring agencies including the NHS, children's centres, housing associations and the police helping to identify the people who are in most need. A network of over 50 volunteers then deliver the emergency food assistance directly to the door of the recipients.

However, since 2011 the charity has expanded to develop a range of services aimed at relieving poverty, including money skills courses and jobs clubs.

Cristel Berridge said "Wherever possible, we like to talk to the people we feed in order to understand why they find themselves in this position. We then try to find ways to help them get back on their feet."

Additionally they have set up Hope Centres to serve the Colshaw Farm and Spath Lane communities with a third centre set to open at Lacey Green in the new year.

Crystal explained "These are places where people can meet every week to enjoy a free meal, learn new skills (money management, job skills, parenting skills, healthy eating on a budget) and be part of a warm and friendly community who believe that there is hope for everyone.

"The Hope Centres have been a fantastic success. We opened our first centre in the Colshaw community during April 2014 in partnership with Vinelife Church Wilmslow. By September this year, we had opened our second centre in the Spath Lane community.

"We already have plans in place for a third Hope Centre in Lacey Green early in the New Year and we wouldn't rule out further Hope Centres in other parts of North East Cheshire in 2015. We have enjoyed fantastic support from local businesses and Handforth Parish Council which has provided considerable assistance in setting up the Spath Lane Hope Centre.

"Our greatest strength is a group of amazing volunteers, mainly from local churches, who really care about the people that they meet and show them that there is always hope no matter what situation they face at the moment."

The Hope Centre Wilmslow at Ringstead Drive is open on Tuesdays from 10am to 12.30pm.

The Hope Centre Handforth at Wilmslow View, Henbury Road, Handforth is open Thursdays from 10am to 12.30pm.

Entrance is free and people are welcome to join them for tea and bacon butties, a friendly chat, craft activities, job club, money management course, cookery, discussion group and parenting courses.

For further information email [email protected] or call 0800 111 4986.