Devizes butcher’s top ten meaty helpings July 2020
Devizes based butchers Walter Rose & Son, finalists in Britain’s Butcher’s Shop of the Year, have provided ten of their prized, top selling Essentials Meat Boxes to Malmesbury charity HEALS. Sponsored by the James Dyson Foundation, HEALS volunteers delivered the food boxes to ten vulnerable, local families in the town last week.
The boxes contained fresh meat, sausages, bacon, burgers, faggots, organic eggs and milk. Walter Rose & Sons meat is sourced from local Wiltshire farms and features on the menu of top restaurants and at Harrods and on TV shows like MasterChef. The family’s fourth generation of Jack Cook and his brother Charlie run the award winning business.
Master Butcher, Jack Cook said "Our main business is supplying meat to the UK’s top restaurants, shops and gastro pubs. Lockdown has hit us hard. But as a family firm and with support from customers and local businesses, we wanted to help other families going through difficult times. Calcot & Spa are our customers. We heard about their great emergency meals work with HEALS and wanted to help. HEALS does so much good work in and around Malmesbury."
Commenting on the donation HEALS Chair of Trustees, Cllr Gavin Grant said, “This is a great boost to local families. We know the meals are helping but many are still struggling with school meal vouchers. The 10 meat packs will really help. We are very grateful both to the Dyson Foundation for their funding and to Jack and Charlie for thinking of us."
Devizes based butchers Walter Rose & Son, finalists in Britain’s Butcher’s Shop of the Year, have provided ten of their prized, top selling Essentials Meat Boxes to Malmesbury charity HEALS. Sponsored by the James Dyson Foundation, HEALS volunteers delivered the food boxes to ten vulnerable, local families in the town last week.
The boxes contained fresh meat, sausages, bacon, burgers, faggots, organic eggs and milk. Walter Rose & Sons meat is sourced from local Wiltshire farms and features on the menu of top restaurants and at Harrods and on TV shows like MasterChef. The family’s fourth generation of Jack Cook and his brother Charlie run the award winning business.
Master Butcher, Jack Cook said "Our main business is supplying meat to the UK’s top restaurants, shops and gastro pubs. Lockdown has hit us hard. But as a family firm and with support from customers and local businesses, we wanted to help other families going through difficult times. Calcot & Spa are our customers. We heard about their great emergency meals work with HEALS and wanted to help. HEALS does so much good work in and around Malmesbury."
Commenting on the donation HEALS Chair of Trustees, Cllr Gavin Grant said, “This is a great boost to local families. We know the meals are helping but many are still struggling with school meal vouchers. The 10 meat packs will really help. We are very grateful both to the Dyson Foundation for their funding and to Jack and Charlie for thinking of us."
MALMESBURY THANKS CALCOT FOR 2,000 MEALS LIFELINE 12 JUNE 2020
Malmesbury Mayor Cllr Campbell Ritchie and HEALS of Malmesbury chair Cllr Gavin Grant joined Tetbury Calcot & Spa hotel’s final free emergency meals collection last week. They were there to thank the team’s 10 professional chefs, led by executive chef Richard Davies, who prepared, produced and packaged more than 2,000 free meals for local vulnerable residents in the Malmesbury area since lockdown began.
"Calcot have done something quite amazing. Their professionalism and kindness, backed by generous principal shareholders the Stone family, has given a real lifeline to vulnerable individuals and families. Many have been shielding from Covid 19 and worried where their meals would come from." said Cllr Gavin Grant, HEALS chair of Trustees. "Their wonderful work has made a massive difference to local residents. Not only providing delicious meals, but also seeing the friendly face of our volunteer delivery drivers three times a week. We picked up and solved a lot of other potential problems as a result,” said Malmesbury Town Mayor, Cllr Campbell Ritchie as he presented a signed certificate to Richard Davies to commemorate the hotel’s work.
"We have great team and fantastic facilities here. We all wanted to help when lockdown happened, isolating so many people, “said executive chef Richard Davies. I knew about HEALS, spoke to Gavin and took it from there. We have been very touched by the kind messages and thank you cards. It is good to know we have made a difference. Now we have to focus on getting our business ready to reopen" he added.
After the Calcot visit, the Mayor returned to Malmesbury Town Hall to thank all the volunteers involved in the delivery of the Calcot meals. In something of a military operation, more than 100 people have had a free Calcot meal in the last ten weeks. Heals Trustees organised the lists, three minibus drivers drove the Cartmell Community minibus to Calcot and back three times a week. The Town Hall was opened up as base of operations and 12 volunteers worked out the routes and delivered them direct to the door. “We simply could not have helped so many vulnerable people without our committed and kind volunteers" said Cllr Gavin Grant.
Malmesbury Mayor Cllr Campbell Ritchie and HEALS of Malmesbury chair Cllr Gavin Grant joined Tetbury Calcot & Spa hotel’s final free emergency meals collection last week. They were there to thank the team’s 10 professional chefs, led by executive chef Richard Davies, who prepared, produced and packaged more than 2,000 free meals for local vulnerable residents in the Malmesbury area since lockdown began.
"Calcot have done something quite amazing. Their professionalism and kindness, backed by generous principal shareholders the Stone family, has given a real lifeline to vulnerable individuals and families. Many have been shielding from Covid 19 and worried where their meals would come from." said Cllr Gavin Grant, HEALS chair of Trustees. "Their wonderful work has made a massive difference to local residents. Not only providing delicious meals, but also seeing the friendly face of our volunteer delivery drivers three times a week. We picked up and solved a lot of other potential problems as a result,” said Malmesbury Town Mayor, Cllr Campbell Ritchie as he presented a signed certificate to Richard Davies to commemorate the hotel’s work.
"We have great team and fantastic facilities here. We all wanted to help when lockdown happened, isolating so many people, “said executive chef Richard Davies. I knew about HEALS, spoke to Gavin and took it from there. We have been very touched by the kind messages and thank you cards. It is good to know we have made a difference. Now we have to focus on getting our business ready to reopen" he added.
After the Calcot visit, the Mayor returned to Malmesbury Town Hall to thank all the volunteers involved in the delivery of the Calcot meals. In something of a military operation, more than 100 people have had a free Calcot meal in the last ten weeks. Heals Trustees organised the lists, three minibus drivers drove the Cartmell Community minibus to Calcot and back three times a week. The Town Hall was opened up as base of operations and 12 volunteers worked out the routes and delivered them direct to the door. “We simply could not have helped so many vulnerable people without our committed and kind volunteers" said Cllr Gavin Grant.
April 2020 RED BULL TO THE RESCUE
Malmesbury’s Red Bull Inn has stepped in to support local charity Heals of Malmesbury with its emergency ‘Meals on Wheels’ service to more than 100 people in the town. The food delivery service for vulnerable individuals and families in the Malmesbury area has entered its sixth week, with more than 1,500 free meals delivered to the doorstep by a team of 12 volunteers.
The Red Bull on Bristol Road just outside Malmesbury, has replaced the 40 meals provided three times a week to vulnerable local residents previously donated by Malmesbury’s Waitrose Partners.
"We are so grateful to Dave and Nicola Moody for their kindness. We knew the 40 free meals from Waitrose would end, as their donations budget was fully spent. Tesco Tetbury helped us out with 25 meals last week, but that was not sustainable,” said Heals Chair of Trustees Gavin Grant.
“We heard the Red Bull were selling take away food and might be willing to help. They have got off to a great start. Two of their three meals each week are hot, so we cut down the lengths of our delivery runs and use more volunteer drivers.
“The Co-op have given us thermal bags like those pizza delivery companies use. These keep food hot and can be wiped down to help protect against the virus. Friday was our first hot delivery and a special day on the 75th anniversary of VE Day. I can't think of a better way to celebrate it than delivering 40 portions of hot fish and chips!” Mr Grant added.
Calcot Hotel & Spa in Tetbury continues to provide freshly prepared meals as part of the temporary Heals service. The hotel has so far given more than 1,000 main courses and desserts, collected by volunteer drivers from Malmesbury’s Cartmell Community Minibus three times a week and brought to Malmesbury for distribution.
Malmesbury’s Red Bull Inn has stepped in to support local charity Heals of Malmesbury with its emergency ‘Meals on Wheels’ service to more than 100 people in the town. The food delivery service for vulnerable individuals and families in the Malmesbury area has entered its sixth week, with more than 1,500 free meals delivered to the doorstep by a team of 12 volunteers.
The Red Bull on Bristol Road just outside Malmesbury, has replaced the 40 meals provided three times a week to vulnerable local residents previously donated by Malmesbury’s Waitrose Partners.
"We are so grateful to Dave and Nicola Moody for their kindness. We knew the 40 free meals from Waitrose would end, as their donations budget was fully spent. Tesco Tetbury helped us out with 25 meals last week, but that was not sustainable,” said Heals Chair of Trustees Gavin Grant.
“We heard the Red Bull were selling take away food and might be willing to help. They have got off to a great start. Two of their three meals each week are hot, so we cut down the lengths of our delivery runs and use more volunteer drivers.
“The Co-op have given us thermal bags like those pizza delivery companies use. These keep food hot and can be wiped down to help protect against the virus. Friday was our first hot delivery and a special day on the 75th anniversary of VE Day. I can't think of a better way to celebrate it than delivering 40 portions of hot fish and chips!” Mr Grant added.
Calcot Hotel & Spa in Tetbury continues to provide freshly prepared meals as part of the temporary Heals service. The hotel has so far given more than 1,000 main courses and desserts, collected by volunteer drivers from Malmesbury’s Cartmell Community Minibus three times a week and brought to Malmesbury for distribution.
HEALS MAKING CONNECTIONS APRIL 2020
Malmesbury charity Heals is helping young people get online to assist with their school work and remote studying, supported by Malmesbury IT Services Company Atema Ltd and the Co-op. The charity is asking for donations of unwanted IT equipment for repair and ten local families have already been helped and more is needed.
"Too many local young people are doing their school work on their parents’ phones or are relying on the post. That is unfair,” said Cllr Gavin Grant, Chair of Heals
Heals is working with Atema to upgrade donated unwanted laptops and tablets, wiping clean of all personal data and delivering to families who need them. Where necessary, Atema is also helping families connect to the internet.
Atema co-founder and former Heals Trustee Andy Pointer said "Old laptops and tablets lying about collecting dust can be brought to life to help our local young people. For every four donated computers, we can quickly make one work really well." We are also contacting schools in our area to let them know we can help their pupils who need to get online," Cllr Grant added.
Coop Member Pioneer Coordinator Sherry Tolson, who organised the supermarket’s involvement, hopes the donations could also give some elderly residents the opportunity to connect remotely to family member and friends, once the needs of school children have been met. “Please drop off any IT equipment at the Coop, or if you live further afield, please contact me via our Facebook page ‘Brinkworth, Malmesbury and surrounding areas Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK’,” she said.
Malmesbury charity Heals is helping young people get online to assist with their school work and remote studying, supported by Malmesbury IT Services Company Atema Ltd and the Co-op. The charity is asking for donations of unwanted IT equipment for repair and ten local families have already been helped and more is needed.
"Too many local young people are doing their school work on their parents’ phones or are relying on the post. That is unfair,” said Cllr Gavin Grant, Chair of Heals
Heals is working with Atema to upgrade donated unwanted laptops and tablets, wiping clean of all personal data and delivering to families who need them. Where necessary, Atema is also helping families connect to the internet.
Atema co-founder and former Heals Trustee Andy Pointer said "Old laptops and tablets lying about collecting dust can be brought to life to help our local young people. For every four donated computers, we can quickly make one work really well." We are also contacting schools in our area to let them know we can help their pupils who need to get online," Cllr Grant added.
Coop Member Pioneer Coordinator Sherry Tolson, who organised the supermarket’s involvement, hopes the donations could also give some elderly residents the opportunity to connect remotely to family member and friends, once the needs of school children have been met. “Please drop off any IT equipment at the Coop, or if you live further afield, please contact me via our Facebook page ‘Brinkworth, Malmesbury and surrounding areas Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK’,” she said.
HEALS LAUNCHES EMERGENCY HARDSHIP FUND FOR MALMESBURY APRIL 2020
An Emergency Hardship Fund has been launched to help people in Malmesbury and surrounding villages who have little or no income and are facing debt or struggling to pay bills, as a result of the current crisis. The Fund is run by local charity Heals of Malmesbury, which supports vulnerable individuals and families in the area.
Malmesbury Mayor Cllr Julie Exton, who helped to set up Heals nine years ago and chose the charity to be one of her mayoral year beneficiaries, is supporting the Fund. Deputy Mayor Cllr Campbell Ritchie and 15 previous town mayors have also added their support. They are joined by town church leaders, including Malmesbury Abbey’s Reverend Oliver Ross.
Sponsors and residents who have already heard about the Fund have contributed more than £3,000 in the last few days. Gavin Grant, Heals Chair of Trustees, said “We know some people in our area are struggling. Many have lost their income as businesses close. There is some Government help, but some people are slipping through the cracks, while others may have to wait for weeks or months for their cash. Many also have no savings.
“Meanwhile, people need to pay essential bills or replace broken household equipment. Our Fund will help them. We don’t want people resorting to payday loans and getting into serious debt. We’ve seen this happen to people we are now helping. They borrowed hundreds of pounds for important reasons, but now owe thousands. Our Heals Hardship Fund has got off to a great start. The initial response has been fantastic, but we know we will need a lot more money to help people who have been hard hit in our area get through this crisis."
Donations can be made online at Local Giving: https://localgiving.org/appeal/malmesburyhardshipfund/Contributions can also be made by bank transfer to the Malmesbury Area Covid-19 Emergency Hardship Fund, account number 21527088, sort code 40 31-07, or by cheque (made payable to ‘Heals’) and posted to Heals, Malmesbury Town Hall, Cross Hayes, Malmesbury, SN16 9BZ
Applications for help from the Emergency Fund are now open and should be made by email to heals.malmesbury@gmail.com in the first instance, or by completing the Contact Us online form on the Heals website www.healsmalmesbury.co.uk Applicants will need to provide some confidential details about their current finances. The Fund will help pay bills or make essential purchases, rather than hand out money direct to applicants.
The 23 Fund Supporters are: Malmesbury Mayors past and present
Cllr Julie Exton
Cllr Fran Vandelli
Cllr Wayne Jones
John Gundry
Sue Poole
Andrew Woodcock
Ray Sanderson
Steve Cox
Patrick Goldstone
Cllr Catherine Doody
Charles Vernon
Jim Toogood
Mary Hill
Julia Bowen
Lesley Bennett
Roger Griffin
Malmesbury Church leaders
The Rev’d Oliver Ross, Malmesbury Abbey
Rev’d Sarah Simpson, Minister, Malmesbury United Reformed Church
Mark and Lydia Faithfull, Lead Pastors Hope Church
Father Thomas Kulandaisamy MSFS, St Aldhelms Malmesbury
Cllr Campbell Ritchie, Deputy Mayor of Malmesbury
Cllr Gavin Grant, Wiltshire Councillor for Malmesbury
An Emergency Hardship Fund has been launched to help people in Malmesbury and surrounding villages who have little or no income and are facing debt or struggling to pay bills, as a result of the current crisis. The Fund is run by local charity Heals of Malmesbury, which supports vulnerable individuals and families in the area.
Malmesbury Mayor Cllr Julie Exton, who helped to set up Heals nine years ago and chose the charity to be one of her mayoral year beneficiaries, is supporting the Fund. Deputy Mayor Cllr Campbell Ritchie and 15 previous town mayors have also added their support. They are joined by town church leaders, including Malmesbury Abbey’s Reverend Oliver Ross.
Sponsors and residents who have already heard about the Fund have contributed more than £3,000 in the last few days. Gavin Grant, Heals Chair of Trustees, said “We know some people in our area are struggling. Many have lost their income as businesses close. There is some Government help, but some people are slipping through the cracks, while others may have to wait for weeks or months for their cash. Many also have no savings.
“Meanwhile, people need to pay essential bills or replace broken household equipment. Our Fund will help them. We don’t want people resorting to payday loans and getting into serious debt. We’ve seen this happen to people we are now helping. They borrowed hundreds of pounds for important reasons, but now owe thousands. Our Heals Hardship Fund has got off to a great start. The initial response has been fantastic, but we know we will need a lot more money to help people who have been hard hit in our area get through this crisis."
Donations can be made online at Local Giving: https://localgiving.org/appeal/malmesburyhardshipfund/Contributions can also be made by bank transfer to the Malmesbury Area Covid-19 Emergency Hardship Fund, account number 21527088, sort code 40 31-07, or by cheque (made payable to ‘Heals’) and posted to Heals, Malmesbury Town Hall, Cross Hayes, Malmesbury, SN16 9BZ
Applications for help from the Emergency Fund are now open and should be made by email to heals.malmesbury@gmail.com in the first instance, or by completing the Contact Us online form on the Heals website www.healsmalmesbury.co.uk Applicants will need to provide some confidential details about their current finances. The Fund will help pay bills or make essential purchases, rather than hand out money direct to applicants.
The 23 Fund Supporters are: Malmesbury Mayors past and present
Cllr Julie Exton
Cllr Fran Vandelli
Cllr Wayne Jones
John Gundry
Sue Poole
Andrew Woodcock
Ray Sanderson
Steve Cox
Patrick Goldstone
Cllr Catherine Doody
Charles Vernon
Jim Toogood
Mary Hill
Julia Bowen
Lesley Bennett
Roger Griffin
Malmesbury Church leaders
The Rev’d Oliver Ross, Malmesbury Abbey
Rev’d Sarah Simpson, Minister, Malmesbury United Reformed Church
Mark and Lydia Faithfull, Lead Pastors Hope Church
Father Thomas Kulandaisamy MSFS, St Aldhelms Malmesbury
Cllr Campbell Ritchie, Deputy Mayor of Malmesbury
Cllr Gavin Grant, Wiltshire Councillor for Malmesbury
JOINING FORCES TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF MALMESBURY APRIL 2020
Malmesbury Town Council and Malmesbury based charity Heals (Help, Empower and Local Support) have formed a partnership to support vulnerable individuals and families in the town during the coronavirus health crisis.
The partnership aims to back up family, neighbours, friends and community groups, providing support to offer a virtual “One Stop Shop" for all those who need help, as well as those who want to volunteer to help people they don’t already know, in situations where support can’t otherwise be provided.
We expect this to include:
• Prescription and medicines collection and home delivery
• Essential food and grocery collection and home delivery
• Friendship calls and activities with isolated people by phone or Facetime
People who want to volunteer should email Malmesbury Town Council at administration@ malmesbury.gov.uk or tic@malmesbury.gov.uk. A volunteering form is also available on the Town Council website www.malmesbury.gov.uk
Those needing help can also contact the Town Council by calling 01666 822142 between 9.30am and 1pm Monday to Friday or emailing or tic@malmesbury.gov.uk An assessment will be made of the best way to help and the registered volunteers or local community groups will be mobilised. More complex cases, including people with debts, rent or Council Tax arrears, Foodbank voucher requests or who need to replace essential household items, will be passed to Heals.
Commenting on the new partnership, Malmesbury's Deputy Mayor Cllr Campbell Ritchie said "As a Town Council we want to do all we can to help those who need it most and enable people who want to help to receive it. This means supporting the families, neighbours and friends and community groups who help and particularly where people need support from volunteers they don’t already know. We will also be working hard to safeguard the health and wellbeing of volunteers and vulnerable people in Malmesbury. We are pleased to be working closely with Heals. They have great experience helping residents and families struggling with problems. “Malmesbury is a terrific place. I want to thank all the existing and new community groups in Malmesbury that are offering help at this difficult time. We are already working together and will continue to do so," he added.
Cllr Gavin Grant, Heals Chair of Trustees said "These are very difficult times for many people and families in our town. Those we already support will continue to get our help. But we know those numbers are likely to rise in the coming weeks. Working in partnership with the Town Council makes best use of Heals' knowledge and experience. It’s also the best way to make sure we maximise the number of those helped and make best use of those coming forward to volunteer. Challenging days lie ahead, but I am very confident that if we all do the right things by each other, we will get through this and Malmesbury will be an even better, more caring and stronger community than it is now."
Malmesbury Town Council and Malmesbury based charity Heals (Help, Empower and Local Support) have formed a partnership to support vulnerable individuals and families in the town during the coronavirus health crisis.
The partnership aims to back up family, neighbours, friends and community groups, providing support to offer a virtual “One Stop Shop" for all those who need help, as well as those who want to volunteer to help people they don’t already know, in situations where support can’t otherwise be provided.
We expect this to include:
• Prescription and medicines collection and home delivery
• Essential food and grocery collection and home delivery
• Friendship calls and activities with isolated people by phone or Facetime
People who want to volunteer should email Malmesbury Town Council at administration@ malmesbury.gov.uk or tic@malmesbury.gov.uk. A volunteering form is also available on the Town Council website www.malmesbury.gov.uk
Those needing help can also contact the Town Council by calling 01666 822142 between 9.30am and 1pm Monday to Friday or emailing or tic@malmesbury.gov.uk An assessment will be made of the best way to help and the registered volunteers or local community groups will be mobilised. More complex cases, including people with debts, rent or Council Tax arrears, Foodbank voucher requests or who need to replace essential household items, will be passed to Heals.
Commenting on the new partnership, Malmesbury's Deputy Mayor Cllr Campbell Ritchie said "As a Town Council we want to do all we can to help those who need it most and enable people who want to help to receive it. This means supporting the families, neighbours and friends and community groups who help and particularly where people need support from volunteers they don’t already know. We will also be working hard to safeguard the health and wellbeing of volunteers and vulnerable people in Malmesbury. We are pleased to be working closely with Heals. They have great experience helping residents and families struggling with problems. “Malmesbury is a terrific place. I want to thank all the existing and new community groups in Malmesbury that are offering help at this difficult time. We are already working together and will continue to do so," he added.
Cllr Gavin Grant, Heals Chair of Trustees said "These are very difficult times for many people and families in our town. Those we already support will continue to get our help. But we know those numbers are likely to rise in the coming weeks. Working in partnership with the Town Council makes best use of Heals' knowledge and experience. It’s also the best way to make sure we maximise the number of those helped and make best use of those coming forward to volunteer. Challenging days lie ahead, but I am very confident that if we all do the right things by each other, we will get through this and Malmesbury will be an even better, more caring and stronger community than it is now."
Waitrose Malmesbury's Easter Surprise
The Easter Bunny came to Malmesbury, with some help from Waitrose Partners and Heals.
Chair of Trustees, Cllr Gavin Grant said,
"A big thank you from us to all Malmesbury's Waitrose Partners. At a difficult time when they are working so hard, their generous gift of 60 Easter Eggs brought smiles to many young faces this Easter."
The Easter Bunny came to Malmesbury, with some help from Waitrose Partners and Heals.
Chair of Trustees, Cllr Gavin Grant said,
"A big thank you from us to all Malmesbury's Waitrose Partners. At a difficult time when they are working so hard, their generous gift of 60 Easter Eggs brought smiles to many young faces this Easter."