The Liskeard Community Treasure Chest
ABOUT
The aim of the Community Treasure Chest, which is a family run Community Interest Company, is to offer services that benefit the whole community by providing household items at an affordable cost to help those in hardship. They do this by restoring donated items for resale to those in need and running a Community Fridge in Liskeard. All initiatives carried out result in reduced landfill waste and contribute to a cleaner environment.
The Community Fridge project, established in 2019, is open for 5 hours per day, Monday- Friday and accessed by 60-100 people weekly. The team have developed relationships with a network of local supermarkets who allow volunteers to collect surplus food and take it back to the Fridge. From there, the public can access the food free of charge.
This prevents landfill and helps the local community, many of whom are on low incomes. During the last few months, the use of the Liskeard Community Fridge has greatly increased. They are aware that local families are struggling between paying for heating and eating. They state that all local communities are ‘feeling the pinch’.
REQUEST FOR FUNDING
The Community Treasure Chest successfully applied for a grant of £1,000 to help with the increasing costs of running the Community Fridge Project. The grant is being used to support their current volunteers who transport the food, an activity which is now costing more for fuel and transport costs. Also costing more are the utility bills. This includes such costs as running the fridges and freezers, where they store the food. Some of the grant will also be used for consumables such as food bags and bin liners.
MEETING THE AIMS OF THE FUND
The work of the Community Fridge meets the aims of the fund as it is charitable, helping those most in need in the community. It is an extension of the existing furniture recycling store enabling Community Treasure Chest to offer another vital service. They also meet the criteria of the fund because they involve volunteers within the project and their provision of community service, which is extending their services to provide food for those most in need.
THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND
SWPA work with our members and South West Community Matters to distribute grants of up to £1,000 to local projects and causes. The programme aims to increase community facilities and community benefits, particularly for those most in need, in local communities. The focus is on activities that enable people from diverse backgrounds to become engaged in their neighbourhoods and communities and to support those organisations that are bringing about real change in the lives of the people who live in those communities.
