The Well Project spreads it wings during lockdown

It started as a youth project in 2008 but it has since grown into a foodbank and wider community roles.

Initially based at The Well@Woodhouse, the project now has more permanent roots in the town at Haw Hill Park. But the pandemic has seen The Well Project and its sister organisation, Normanton Foodbank, spread its wings.

In lockdown it became a community hub for Normanton and the surrounding areas, working with Wakefield Council, Nova, Young Lives and many other community organisations.

Community project coordinator Michelle Newton said: “When lockdown happened the first time we all got together on a Zoom meeting and we made sure each area of Wakefield was covered by one of us. So our reach did get a bit further than Normanton and Altofts, which is our usual area.”

Normanton Foodbank, which is part of the Trussell Trust network, initially covered areas like Pontefract and Knottingley with the help of colleagues in Castleford. Then more hubs set up. Michelle added: “We did help with supply of food, so our food distribution has gone further. We’ve helped other foodbanks if we’ve had surplus and vice versa. If we had been short of anything, it was just a case of putting an email out to our friends and saying, ‘have you got any spare beans?’. We would get an influx of beans straight away. We have all really worked together.”

Help has ranged from doing shopping, collecting medication and walking people’s dogs. Michelle said: “Things like getting someone’s newspaper. That newspaper is their lifeline to the outside world and the TV as well, which they have needed during lockdown. We’ve continued that even when lockdown hasn’t been on. We have got a fair few people now that we are still supporting every week just because they are either too anxious to go out, or they are still shielding for whatever reason, or they are just unable to get out due to health reasons.”

They have also been well supported by local supermarkets and businesses. Michelle said: “We’ve continually had support at Sainsbury’s at Trinity Walk. They’ve been absolutely fabulous.”

Customers have been dropping off goods in permanent collection points at the front of the store. Michelle said: “The customers have been brilliant in keeping those baskets filled, which keep restocking our shelves and allow us to feed people.”

That’s just a snapshot of one of many stores, businesses and people. Michelle believes the wider community has gone the extra mile during lockdown, with Christmas donations “going through the roof”. Food is distributed to the needy by a referral system. But she has seen the demand for food rise during lockdown and again at Christmas.

Michelle said: “We do see repeat people, new people and working people. The numbers have risen and it is shocking to see people that are working or furloughed. That 20 per cent (less wage) on furlough is a lot of money to some people. Some people are living literally from paycheck to paycheck. To have 20 per cent knocked off their salary is a lot of money.”

But Michelle believes people’s and businesses’ continued generosity will help them meet the demand and enable them to continue assisting the community.

BACKGROUND:

Youth work is an integral part of the Well Project.

The charity, which was born out of All Saints Church in Normanton, has its origins in helping young people. Lockdown has meant that it can’t hold its traditional youth clubs so it has been taking its services on the road. Community project coordinator Michelle Newton said: “Our youth team has been delivering activity packages to the kids once a week through the holidays and through the lockdown. That includes a bit of food, like snacks, cereals, fruit and activities they can do at home, like crafts or some sort of exercise.”

The Well Project is part of the Active and Inspired group in Wakefield, which funds its youth worker leader Vicki Bentham.

Outreach work has been continuing as well. The youth team has been out on the streets once a week making sure young people keep safe and that they know the Covid guidelines. Michelle said: “It’s building that relationship up with those kids so they trust us and they can come to us with any problems they might have. We are there for them.”

Children also got presents thanks to donations from Cash for Kids’ Mission Christmas campaign. People who would have normally attended its Christmas Day dinner also got gifts bags funded by Normanton Town Council as well as festive food from Sainsbury’s.

For more information please see: thewellproject.org.uk.