A Brighton councillor has opened a food bank from her own home to deal with a rise in demand.
Bridget Fishleigh first opened the food bank from her home office during covid to help families in the Rottingdean ward she represents.
She ran it out of her home office because of a lack of available community space.
She is now relaunching it after requests from a school and the council – as well as people turning up on her doorstep.
Cllr Fishleigh said: “I’m so sad to be re-opening this food bank. It’s a terrible sign of our times, but nobody in our area needs to be hungry. We have plenty to share.
“This is in response to requests from a local primary school as well as referrals from Brighton and Hove City Council and a few people turning up on my doorstep.
“People living here are a £5 bus ride away from central food banks, and most food banks in the city are focused on serving people locally and definitely don’t deliver out this way.”
Local charities including The Saltdean Community Association as well as Rottingdean and Saltdean Lions have contributed donations to buy initial supplies.
It will be run by volunteers, including members of Cllr Fishleigh’s own family. People can be referred to it via the city council.
The food bank was first set up in April 2020 and used by people in Ovingdean, Rottingdean, and Saltdean.
Cllr Fishleigh said: “By October 2021, most people using the food bank had got back on their feet again.
“There isn’t enough community space in these areas and it is already used most of the time.
“Also, people can visit when it’s convenient for them rather than at set times.
“I have worked from home as an international business consultant for 22 years.
“I have an office downstairs and I will be moving my work stuff out and the food bank back in.
“My home hosts all types of community events including The Deans Repair Cafe.
“I will be doing a shout-out for donations although, of course, I appreciate that times are also much more expensive for many of the people who were so generous when I ran the food bank during 16 months of covid.”
Personal chef company Sonia’s Home Cooking has provided recipes, with bags of ingredients to be made up which will be available
Referrals to the food bank will be through the usual council registration and referrals system.
You can register to use a foodbank via the council by clicking here.
Rhose in East Saltdean, which is part of Lewes District Council, can find help by clicking here.
She’d do better working hard to get business and inward investment into this city. ‘Sound-bite/click-bate’ gestures don’t help people – good jobs do..
Hey “Rostrum” why don’t you write to her and ask? In my experience Bridget is very attentive and gets a lot of things done for our community. Maybe she is working on your ask as well? I’m sure she’d be happy to address the question!
Go on, warrior your keyboard in her direction, instead of ranting at the clouds. These comments won’t get you the change you are looking for, sorry to break it to you!
How very churlish and bitter of you, Rostrum. Ms Fishleigh is just one independent councillor who does not have a party machine behind her, she has a career of her own and juggles that with looking after the welfare of her constituents. You probably don’t know that Rottingdean Coastal is ‘the bit that dropped off’ as far as B&H Council is concerned and it is largely ignored by the council. It shouldn’t even be part of B&H and would do better in Lewes district. How on earth do you expect just one independent councillor to do anything about bringing ‘good jobs’ to the city. She is doing what she can do to help people who need assistance. Perhaps it would be better to ask the Green/Lab coalition what they are doing to bring good jobs to the city, the answer being nothing at all.
PS: That is not how you spell ‘click-bait’, which shreds your very dubious cred, mate.
One of the best councillors out there who actually cares about her ward and is willing to take action to help residents. Others should follow this example.
Agreed, Paul. She does actually care about her constituents, and people like Rostrum, who now seem to think that Bridget can actually sort out all the things that are very wrong with this city, are totally deluded and need to hammer the Green/Lab coalition rather than just one independent councillor who is doing a great job.