Ad Astra Barnsley CIC, based at New Lodge Community Centre, has been proudly working with FareShare Yorkshire for over 8 years to combat food insecurity in St. Helens. In the last 12 months our volunteers have provided this vital frontline partner with the surplus food of 253 food sites valued at £39,000.

The area faces significant challenges, with a growing population and increasing financial pressures. Many residents are single parents, elderly individuals living in isolation, or families with no access to immediate benefits.

“We use surplus food from FareShare Yorkshire to provide essential support to up to 40 families each week in St. Helens, an area of high deprivation. Many of the people we help are struggling with the harsh realities of the Cost-of-Living Crisis — choosing between eating, heating, or even maintaining personal hygiene. The food we distribute is a lifeline for them.”

Each week, Ad Astra supplies ambient, chilled, and fresh food to families who would otherwise go without. One example is a man recently released from prison, returning to his family but facing a 16-week wait for benefits. Without this food support, his household would have faced severe hardship.

“Many of our local families — not just those with children, but also elderly individuals and people living in isolation who are struggling,” says a staff member.

One beneficiary, a single mother of four, shared: “I only just found out about Ad Astra’s food support. It’s been a huge help because I struggle with managing money. The weekly food parcel, along with what I can afford from local shops, makes a real difference.”