As the cost of living crisis is becoming more prevalent, communities and organisations are coming together to help those most in need.

Kate Turner, 28, from Midsomer Norton, who runs the Midsomer Norton Methodist Church Pantry, started the project four years ago. It began as a free, and eco friendly community on Facebook, giving away unwanted items to local people, saving money, and preventing items from going to landfill. Then it went further.

Kate told The Journal: “During lockdown I had so many requests asking where people could access free food, as times were hard with jobs being lost and furloughed. So, I, and a few other community members, started doing food parcels from our home.

“Realising our need had gotten so large, I reached out to Reverend Stephen, the Pastor of the Methodist Church, and asked if it would be possible to make an outdoor pantry that was accessible 24/7.

“He loved the idea! In March 2021, my husband built the structure from donated goods from Wickes in Midsomer Norton, and the community pantry was born.

“It is based outside the original entrance to the church, and houses tinned non perishable food toiletries sanitary wear nappies and other items.

“We are supported by local members of the community with donations of gift vouchers, cash, and donations. The local Tesco’s in Midsomer Norton, has also given us donations throughout the year to keep us going.

“We top up daily, so there are always items available. Sadly, we saw a rise January 2022, as a huge amount people were in need, I believe this down to the current cost of living crisis, with electric prices sky rocketing in this country.”

Reverend Stephen has now moved to a new church, and a congregation, so Kate Turner, Virginette Lewis, and current members of the Methodist church, are the ones who top up the pantry, and shop for donations. The pantry has bought a lifeline to those in need, offering a discreet service, that they hope will keep going for many more years.

Kate said, “We are in desperate need for more volunteers, and also donations in any form, we are always beyond grateful for them.

“The pantry feels me with much joy seeing the community back each other, and the people in our community who may be falling on tough times, there’s a sense of pride and appreciation to all who have donated. I couldn’t do it without them or my amazing volunteers.

“The pantry also houses information on other services, providing numbers, and places to go if facing hardship so it’s not just a place to get food and goods, it’s a place to help find hope when people may have lost some.

“We are always in need of regular donations, and volunteers, it’s a rewarding job to serve your community.

The original Facebook group Kate started is still running, and serving the local area too.

“I started free and eco community, after recently moving back to the area with a new baby, I wasn’t working, and having lived in Midsomer Norton most of my life, I had always found the community disjointed. Either people were doing well financially, or not so much, and I wanted to create a way that bought the community back together, while also saving the planet

“I’m offering free items that you may believe only fit for the tip, but could instead be used maybe for a great upcycle project, or something that a family could need, helping them save money.

“Free and eco every year, does an advent give away, for 25 days over the Christmas holidays. Giving away hampers, hand made items, donated by local businesses. It also helps to promote small businesses, and get them so more publicity.

“Free and eco also houses a lot of information. Including how to feed a family of four for £100 a month, along with other handy eco and cheap tips from cleaning products, to being more frugal throughout the year, free day out ideas, and much more

“I also ran the Midsomer Norton jumble trail, to help people meet members in the community give away sell unwanted items destined for landfill this year. We have changed to salvage Saturday, a day where people can leave free items outside there home for members of the community to collect.”

Somer Valley Food Bank, started in 2013 with St. John’s, Peasedown, and local other churches. They run a referral system through an agency, with vouchers from lots of other organisations, including schools, and housing associations. They are a team of 60, which includes Project Lead, Paul Woodward.

Paul said, “We can help guide people direct to other agencies, for even more help too. Such as cheaper energy providers, and help with debt agencies. People can ring The National Help for Hardship line as well, the number is 0808 208 2138.”

Metro Mayor Dan Norris is acutely aware of the ongoing cost of living crisis and is working to help West of Englander’s struggling in a number of ways, with a focus on providing long-term solutions to the energy price crisis.

While North East Somerset has some amazing stone built homes, they weren’t built with energy efficiency in mind. As part of the Mayor’s Green Recovery Plan, he has created an ambitious retrofit programme to provide advice and support to homeowners, and crucially train tradespeople in the skills they need to do the work of improving homes across the region.

The West of England Green Homes programme provides free improvements such as insulation for local residents on low incomes and there are grants for organisations and businesses like Midsomer Norton’s MMA Architectural Systems which the Mayor visited to see their brand-new double glazing and more energy efficient doors.

Coming soon, the Mayor plans to reduce single bus fares. That’s thanks to the £105m the Mayor secured for his Bus Plan earlier this year.

As inflation rockets it is important that work still pays. Mayor Norris has secured commitments from over seventy employers to pay their staff the Real Living Wage through his recently launched Good Employment Charter, with over 5,000 locals already benefiting.

But the Mayor says the Government must play its part to help hard-pressed households through the very difficult months ahead. He is backing Labour’s fully-costed plan to freeze the energy price cap so households won’t pay a penny more for their energy bills which will also bring inflation down this winter and help kickstart the region’s recovery.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “The West of England is facing the worst cost-of-living squeeze in living memory, yet the Prime Minister is seemingly too busy planning his next holiday, and the would-be PMs are fighting each other. I’m doing all I can to support West of Englanders.

“Here in the West of England we are leading the way on a retrofit revolution to make our homes more energy efficient while cutting local people’s sky-high energy bills and tackling fuel poverty at the same time.

“But with increasing numbers struggling to make ends meet and with inflation and energy prices spiralling out of control, the Government needs to play its part.

“With the prospect of a bleak winter ahead, the next Prime Minister must look again at Labour’s fully-costed plan to freeze the energy price cap and other measures to bring inflation under control, putting more money into the pockets of West of England families”.

For more information on cost of living crisis and where you can get help, visit Somer Valley Foodbank: https://somervalley.foodbank.org.uk/get-help/

3SG charity have laid out some platforms to go to for help: https://www.3sg.org.uk/post/local-support-resources-to-help-with-the-cost-of-living-crisis