Southampton City Mission (SCM), an independent, Christian organisation that provides emergency clothes and food to those in need in Southampton, has received further funding from the Barker-Mill Foundation (BMF) in the shape of £20,000. This will cover the price of SCM’s Basic Bank warehouse for the next two years, following last year’s donation of £8,750.
SCM was established in 1963 to support the community of Southampton, and in 1996 the organisation opened its Basic Bank service that provides food and clothing for people struggling with the effects of poverty in Southampton.
As the demand for local foodbanks in Southampton has massively increased, SCM has now taken on larger premises to hold the goods and meet the need for assistance in the city. The donation from BMF will pay the rent of the new premises for the next two years enabling them to continue supporting people in Southampton who are facing hardship irrespective of their race, religion, age or gender.
Tim Jobling, Trustee at the Barker-Mill Foundation said: “We’re pleased to offer our support to SCM for a second year in a row allowing the Southampton based charity to continue providing much needed help to those in need in the city.
“SCM are an amazing charity helping those in need who’re closest to home. It’s important to remember that our neighbours and those around us may not be as fortunate as us, and its charities like SCM that ensure they have the basic needs many of us take for granted.”
SCM have a small team of employees, a larger team of about 120 volunteers and a much wider network of supporters in the community. The support of BMF contributes to the stability of Southampton’s Basic Banks, through funding provision of the central warehouse for the near future, enabling SCM to continue to feed people over 8,000 times each year.
Andrew Ball on behalf of SCM said: “We’re thrilled to have received a second donation from BMF – we really value their support and it allows organisations like us to continue providing support to the local people that need it.
“The warehouse allows us to store more food and in turn feed more people in the city who are on the breadline. It’s a vital service that we’re proud to provide.”
If you’d like to donate visit: http://www.southamptoncitymission.co.uk/donations. If you’re a charity looking for funding, to apply for funding from the Barker-Mill Foundation please visit: https://barkermillfoundation.com/apply/.