Community Development Team Impact Report 2024

3. Cost of living

Supporting local households: making a real difference

The Community Development Workers (CDWs) have been involved in projects that directly impact food and fuel poverty, including the distribution of funding from the Household Support Fund (HSF) and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

The CDWs are actively involved in supporting five food clubs across the Borough. As well as providing access to low cost food (£2-3 per week for a bag of food worth around £15), the CDWs have worked hard to ensure that members also have access to a wide range of support services offering help with water bills, employment, debt and energy costs.

Food clubs

Location

Number of households supported in 2024

Amount of food saved from landfill

Horley

120

19,250kg

Merstham

45

6,589kg

Preston

97

10,630kg

Redhill

56

7,840kg

Woodhatch and Whitebushes

65

9,144kg

Community impact

Redhill and Woodhatch Food Clubs have hosted energy workshops (working with Energy Manage CIC). 25 Food Club members were able to access information and financial support to deal with bills and energy saving gadgets to reduce costs in the longer term.

Feedback from a participant at Redhill workshop:

"The Air Fryer is great and I'm really looking forward to using it, but the info was really helpful. There were things I never thought about but now I'm thinking about what I do at home and what appliances, I use and about keeping warm. Thank you."