"Fantastic News For Those Dependent On Them" — Council Abandons Pantries Funding Cut

County Hall has made a U-turn on a decision cutting funding for Isle of Wight community pantries, described as “fantastic news” for those dependent on them.

Household Support Fund 7 (HSF) investment worth £295,000 has been allocated for the support hubs in a revised decision by cabinet member Cllr Debbie Andre, following a call-in of a prior decision denounced as “cruel and heartless”.

HSF 7 is a £742 million government funding package to support vulnerable households, distributed through unitary and county councils.

Cllr Geoff Brodie, with the support of eight other councillors, called-in Cllr Andre’s previous April 24 decision – a delivery plan allocating £1,994,369.25 in Isle of Wight HSF.

They asked why community pantries were facing a 46 per cent funding cut despite overall Whitehall funding ‘only being reduced by 12 per cent’.

The council’s revised Isle of Wight HSF delivery plan supports a range of initiatives including £530,000 in community grants, £400,000 in supermarket vouchers and a utility,

food and white goods support scheme worth £350,000.

Cllr Brodie described the updated decision as “fantastic news for all those dependent on support from community pantries and larders”.

Monique Gallop, a coordinator for Cowes Community Pantry, welcomed the change of plan, adding that the cut would have “taken people’s dignity away”.

She said:

“It (the cut) would be huge. Between all the pantries, I’d say we have at least 300 people visit a week. Out of that 300, that’s going to be at least a minimum of probably 900 people a week that survive off the food from the pantries.

“It would have had a dramatic effect.”

An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said:

“The cabinet member has considered the recommendation proposed by the corporate scrutiny committee and, as a result, the decision regarding the delivery plan has been amended to reflect a reallocation of funding to once again enhance the offer to the community pantries on a one-off basis."