(l to r: Bernadette Bramble, Mayor Woodley & Madam Speaker with Sarah Watson and Fatou Gassama from Hackney Giving)

On Wednesday 17 January, the Hackney Giving team at Hackney CVS hosted a thank you lunch in appreciation of the dedicated community groups that have helped local residents during the cost of living crisis.

Throughout 2023 groups were grant-funded through Hackney Giving, in partnership with Hackney Council, to provide meals for local residents in community settings, food packages for people at home, help with utility bills, and afterschool provision for young people. In total, £442,818 was distributed to groups via 84 grants.

Alleviating stress with food packages

Acheinu Cancer Support was one group who received a grant. Each week for a duration of six weeks, 25 families received food packages delivered to their door that included basics such as bread, cheese, fruit, vegetables and snacks. For families affected by cancer, whose financial hardships were further exacerbated due to the cost-of-living crisis, these packages were critical in alleviating some of the financial and emotional stress they were experiencing. One recipient commented: “Thank you for the packages. I am very impressed by it all. The box arrived the day after we spoke, neatly packed. Everything was of good quality, and I am happy that I’m eating good quality nutritious food, I am very grateful for this wonderful support during these challenging times.”

Hackney Giving supporters enjoy thank you lunch

As well as colleagues from local not-for-profit groups, we were delighted to host the Mayor of Hackney, Caroline Woodley, Madam Speaker, Anya Sizer, and her consort Bernadette Bramble. Tweeting after the event, Madam Speaker wrote: “Wonderful and uplifting lunch meeting with @hackneycvs @mayorofhackney and so many of the community groups involved…Thank you for all you do.”

We were also pleased to host some of Hackney Giving’s supporters. Thanks to our core funder, City Bridge Foundation, to Hackney Council for working alongside us on the cost-of-living-crisis programme and to local staff at Burberry for fundraising for us.

Hackney Giving Programme and Development Manager Sarah Watson sums up the day: “It was lovely to be in a room all together – people from many different places and backgrounds, all brought together by a love for Hackney and its communities. What a privilege to spend time among such a good bunch of people!”