Latest news with #FeedNewport
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'We are holding the community together' - award-nominated food bank's plea for help
TARIQ Khan is excited and exhausted by the challenges his team face. His Feed Newport group has been keeping up with a recent growing demand but delighted by the response he has seen from his colleagues. The team has been working non-stop to support not only rough sleepers and hostel residents, but a growing number of families, children, and people in temporary housing across Newport. The need is rising, and so is the pressure. Tariq is both exhausted and hopeful. His team hasn't missed a day, making sure no one is left behind. But the sustainability of this effort remains uncertain: 'Even a single pound donated makes a real impact, and many donors are those with very little themselves, people who truly know what it means to go without.' Feed Newport has always served all of Newport from the heart of Pill, and as the city undergoes regeneration, Tariq urges investors and policymakers to back those who've long kept the community afloat. 'We're not just feeding people,' he says, 'we're holding the community together.' Tariq says this spirit is beautifully embodied by Lucy Anderson. Recruited through the GAVO Young Volunteer Grant, Lucy began helping at Feed Newport as a teenager. She grew in confidence, gained skills, and has now landed a job with the NHS catering department. Her journey shows how volunteering isn't just about giving, it's also about growing. Lucy has been nominated for a GAVO Young Volunteer Award, and Feed Newport itself is up for a Food Sustainability Award after years of pioneering grassroots work. Read more 'This is what real community looks like,' new pantry opens in heart of city Meet the Newport volunteers fighting to protect their woodland from vandals 'This close-knit and diverse community has been in the crossfire' Still, the need for volunteers is critical. This week, Feed Newport struggled to staff food services, prompting Tariq to send a heartfelt call to action. 'If you've ever thought about volunteering, now's the time. It helps others,but it changes you too.' Nominations for the Newport Volunteer Awards are open until today, July 25. Lucy's story proves how far kindness can carry you. Maybe your story starts here too.
South Wales Argus
6 days ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
Feed Newport group 'exhausted' by demand for help
His Feed Newport group has been keeping up with a recent growing demand but delighted by the response he has seen from his colleagues. The team has been working non-stop to support not only rough sleepers and hostel residents, but a growing number of families, children, and people in temporary housing across Newport. The need is rising, and so is the pressure. Tariq is both exhausted and hopeful. His team hasn't missed a day, making sure no one is left behind. But the sustainability of this effort remains uncertain: 'Even a single pound donated makes a real impact, and many donors are those with very little themselves, people who truly know what it means to go without.' Feed Newport has always served all of Newport from the heart of Pill, and as the city undergoes regeneration, Tariq urges investors and policymakers to back those who've long kept the community afloat. 'We're not just feeding people,' he says, 'we're holding the community together.' Tariq says this spirit is beautifully embodied by Lucy Anderson. Recruited through the GAVO Young Volunteer Grant, Lucy began helping at Feed Newport as a teenager. She grew in confidence, gained skills, and has now landed a job with the NHS catering department. Her journey shows how volunteering isn't just about giving, it's also about growing. Lucy has been nominated for a GAVO Young Volunteer Award, and Feed Newport itself is up for a Food Sustainability Award after years of pioneering grassroots work. Still, the need for volunteers is critical. This week, Feed Newport struggled to staff food services, prompting Tariq to send a heartfelt call to action. 'If you've ever thought about volunteering, now's the time. It helps others,but it changes you too.' Nominations for the Newport Volunteer Awards are open until today, July 25. Lucy's story proves how far kindness can carry you. Maybe your story starts here too.
South Wales Argus
14-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
New support hub to open in Newport to meet rising demand
With living costs continuing to rise and donations and volunteers becoming harder to come by, Newport Support Network is finding new ways to meet growing demand. Located on 192 Commercial Road, Feed Newport and Cultural Food Hub is a buzzing community hub offering far more than just standard food parcels. Handing out baby essentials, cultural foods and hot meals, this organisation has become a lifeline for many. Founded in 2020 by Tariq Khan, the food hub started with the goal of supporting ethnic minority communities but has since evolved into a vital support network for anyone in Newport who needs it, from domestic abuse victims to refugees and families living in temporary accommodation. They also offer a soup kitchen every Friday from 11.30am to 1.30pm, funded by the National Lottery. Mr Khan's motive for starting Newport Support Network 'sounds cliché', he said, "but a support worker helped me in the past and, when I was able to, I wanted to give back. "Fast forward 20 years, I became a qualified support worker and started Feed Newport." The organisation now operates as a cultural food hub, soup kitchen, baby bank and 'everything in between', said Mr Khan. Services run throughout the week, providing catering to a diverse range of dietary needs, including halal, vegan and gluten-free. Newport Support Network is now expanding further. A new site at 92 Commercial Street is set to open in the coming weeks, offering what Mr Khan describes as an "open table and pantry, which is a space for families, providing them with English lessons, cooking lessons and community workshops." They also provide baby food, nappies and other essentials to new mums and families in need. This initiative supplies essential items for infants and toddlers to ease some of the pressures of early parenthood, especially for families experiencing poverty, homelessness, or crisis. "We're creating a space where people can access everything under one roof," he said. Mr Khan is also working with Asda's community scheme and local farm shops to ensure food sustainability, while making new investments, including a £35,000 Comic Relief sponsor, which aims to create jobs and reduce the number of empty shops in Newport. "It's just good people coming together," Mr Khan said. "When you see so much negativity on social media, it's important to show that there are still people out here who care." How You Can Help Newport Support Network welcomes all kinds of support. They're currently accepting non-perishable food items and monetary donations and are looking for volunteers. You can also self-refer through their website if you need support. Every contribution helps build a Newport where everyone feels welcome, supported and seen. To get involved, visit the Feed Newport website, or stop by their centres at 192 Commercial Road, NP20 2PP, or the soon-to-open 92 Commercial Street.
