ExxonMobil Fawley contribution helps Citizens Advice New Forest reach out at Food Larder

Citizens Advice New Forest has received £1,500 from the site to help fund an outreach service to sit alongside the Food Larder project, a community programme run by volunteers. Alison Talbot, Chief Officer for Citizens Advice New Forest, said: “The Food Larder scheme is a partnership initiative between New Forest District Council, FareShare, Citizens Advice New Forest, local foodbanks, and parish councils. It’s a membership scheme aimed at helping those on low incomes make their money go further by reducing food shopping bills.”

She added: “Food Larders have already been launched across the district, including the Waterside, and the aim is to have a Citizens Advice representative present at each one to offer extra support, advice and information where needed. It means that anyone who comes along to the Food Larder can also chat to one of our team if they would like to. This generous contribution from ExxonMobil Fawley is helping to pilot this initiative at Food Larders in Marchwood, Hythe, Blackfield, and Calshot, supported by Marchwood Parish Council, Fawley Parish Council, Hythe and Dibden Parish Council, and the Waterside Foodbank.”

Angharad Vaughan, Community Affairs Adviser at ExxonMobil Fawley, said: “Citizens Advice New Forest provides a valuable service to many people in our community. We are delighted to support this pilot initiative to have representatives from the charity at each Food Larder. We hope it will help many more people in need of advice to access the support they need.”

• The Food Larders are a Fareshare scheme funded by New Forest District Council and supported by the Citizens Advice Bureau and local foodbanks. Membership depends on household size, with weekly subscription costs ranging from £2.50 for a single person to £5 for a family of four or more. The value of the “bag” is worth considerably more than the weekly membership fee.

Waterside Food Larders are held at the following venues. People can turn up on the day to register and find out more information if required. No appointment is needed.

Marchwood Village Hall. Mondays from 12.30pm to 2pm St Anne’s Community Centre, Hythe. Tuesdays from 1pm to 2.30pm Queen Elizabeth Recreation Centre, Blackfield. Thursdays from 9.30am to 11am St George’s Hall, Calshot. Thursdays from 12.30pm to 2pm

Notes for editors: 

• ExxonMobil at Fawley is the collective name given to Esso Petroleum Company Limited and ExxonMobil Chemical Limited which are part of Exxon Mobil Corporation.
• The Fawley refinery is the largest in the UK. Approximately one in six cars in the UK operates on fuel produced at Fawley.
• Over the past six years, ExxonMobil at Fawley has contributed in excess of £1m in community support. For more information, contact Alison Jones, Community Affairs Manager, ExxonMobil Fawley. Telephone: (023) 8089 6799. Email: alison.j.jones@exxonmobil.com