The Red Cross has been working with Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) on the Winter Food Project, launched to help people experiencing food poverty during the coldest months of the year.

Due to the economic impact of increased fuel and food prices and the rising costs of living impact, many of our HSCPs most vulnerable service users’ financial circumstances were worsening markedly, month on month. 

HSCP staff worked in partnership with the Red Cross to launch a new referral pathway through the Winter Period (December 2022 – March 2023), to support service users who were identified as being the most at risk of experiencing food poverty.

Vulnerable service users were referred by staff from Care at Home, Health & Social Care Connect, and wider HSCP community services. An essential food parcel to provide a short-term solution for service users, with no access to food, was supplied and hand delivered by Red Cross volunteers. On average the project has delivered approximately 80-100 parcels per week, totalling over 1,300 parcels.

One East End resident told volunteers that the delivery had saved their life, as they had no food in the cupboards.

Robert Murray, our HSCP’s Home Care Service Manager, said: “The project has been a lifesaver for some of our most vulnerable service users. The staff and volunteers at the Red Cross have worked hard to ensure that those identified as being at risk of food poverty received a food parcel. 

“Each parcel included contact details for Glasgow Helps, a new service which helps citizens access the right support for their needs at the right time. It is run by the council in partnership with the Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector.”

Robert added: “What became clear during the project is the important role volunteers play. They have been a source of kindness, compassion and at times, a friendly listening ear. The volunteers have been able to provide feedback on all service users including any further involvement they have required from the Red Cross.”
 
Volunteers have been providing not only food support but ongoing emotional support to vulnerable service users and have built up a rapport which has enabled them to signpost to the third sector organisations for help that the service user may not have been aware existed.

Emergency response volunteer Kirsty McKenzie, who has been taking parcels to struggling residents over the last five months said: “Many people I’ve visited have never been in this situation before and asking for help is very difficult for them. The appreciation we get from the people we’ve been visiting is, at times, overwhelming.”

Another Red Cross volunteer, Christine Pert, said “A lot of thought has gone into the content of our food parcels. We have catered for vegan, halal, vegetarian, high fibre, low sugar and diabetic diets.

“We have also supported new mothers with baby formula, nappies, wipes and sanitary products, along with other essential non-food items like shower gel and toothpaste in all parcels.”

If you need a health or social care service please contact Health & Social Care Connect.