The Covid-19 crisis has hit everybody hard. We have experienced this, just as we are sure you have.
No matter how hard we have been hit at OTG, we are still fortunate enough to not find ourselves in a situation where food is hard to come by, or we are worried about where our next meal is coming from.
OTG condemn in no uncertain terms the recent government position to deny the children most in need to access to meals over the half term holiday. No child should ever grow up hungry. As a theatre most of our work is with young people. There welfare has to come first, and it always will.
Below, you can find a set of resources and contacts that can help, should you need it, over the half term holiday (and I'm sure beyond it too).
We would also like to add ourselves to the support network that you can rely on. If you need help over the half term (and beyond) then let us know, and we will see what we can do personally, and if not, we will help you find the support you need.
If, like us, you find yourself in the privileged position to not have to worry about where your next meal might come from, then please see the GoFundMe link below, organised by our friends over at WYLDE Coffee in Heswall. All the proceeds to this fund will go directly toward food parcels for those in need, either from WYLDE Coffee or elsewhere.
GoFundMe Link - organised by Jamie McIlhatton at WYLDE Coffee:
Or the FareShare Response, where you can also donate:
Please also consider signing the parliamentary petition to have the decision reviewed:
Please don't suffer quietly. Stay well.
Local businesses providing free meals:
Tilly Mint Treats - Prenton
The Bedford, 'Luke's' - Rockferry
Cathy's Hot & Cold Takeaway - Birkenhead
The Stonehouse Cafe - Upton
Born & Bred Coffee Shop - Prenton
Stanley's Seaview Road - Wallasey
Scoffee - Bebington
Aubergine Cafe - West Kirby
The Willow Tree - Liscard
Bella Rose Hair & Beauty - Tranmere
Flissy's Coffee Shop at GJ's - Thurstaston
Quirky Cafe - Hoylake
The Grange - Moreton
The Village Cafe - Bromborough
Number 7 Cafe - Birkenhead
WYLDE Coffee - Heswall
Zero Clucks Given - Birkenhead
Nine Leaves Tea Lounge - Hoylake
Puddos - Wallasey
Muzzy's Breakfast House - Bebington
The Lighthouse Inn - Wallasey
Little Bear Fudgery - Wallasey
Yankies Sweets and Treats - Bebington
3B's Cafe - Birkenhead
The Green Hut - Moreton
Our Coffee Shop - Spital
A List of Organisations Providing Other Help (and what they offer):
Building Bridges, Bray Street, Birkenhead: Hot lunches and activities. Monday to Friday, 10am-3.30pm (lunch served between 1pm and 2pm). buildingbridgeswirralcic@gmail.com
Leasowe Millennium Centre, Twickenham Drive, Leasowe: Food boxes and activity packs. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10am-3pm. jenni@wirraldt.org.uk
Sandbrook Community Centre, Sunningdale, Chapelhill Road, Moreton: Lunch packs and activity packs. moira@wirraldt.org.uk
Carrbridge Centre, Woodchurch: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 9am-12.30pm. Meals and activities (with activity packs available for children unable to attend in person). carrbridgemakeithappen@gmail.com
Core Project, Clover Drive, Bidston Rise: Meals, packed lunches, and activities - collection and local delivery available. Corebirkenhead@outlook.com
Gautby Road Youth, Play, and Community Centre, Bidston/Birkenhead. Daily packed lunches and activity packs. luke@gautbyroad.co.uk
Rock Ferry Salvation Army Church, Old Chester Road. Family food hampers and activities. myrtle.lacey@salvationarmy.org.uk
Hope for New Brighton at New Brighton Baptist Church: Food bags and recipe cards. shirlmbowen@gmail.com
Charlotte's Brightside, Molyneux Drive, New Brighton: Cooking ingredients and activities (mainly deliveries). angie.churchill@yahoo.co.uk
Bee Wirral, St Anne Street, Birkenhead: Food bags and activity packs. rach@beewirral.co.uk
Oak Community Project, Christ The King Church, St Anne Street, Birkenhead. Lunch Bags and
Activity Packs (available for collection or delivery on Monday). den.price59@gmail.com
Shaftesbury Youth Club, Prenton: Monday to Friday, 9.30am-3pm. Breakfast, lunch bags, and activities. michellenaylor@shaftes.org.uk
Nightingales, Argyle Street, Birkenhead: Hampers for Wirral Ways clients with children. damien.prescott@cgl.org.uk
The Positivitree, Bloom Building, Abbey Close, Birkenhead: Healthy grab bags and craft workshop. rachel@thepositivitree.com
Cre8ing Careers - Wirral-wide: Food hampers and activities. lynne.howe@crea8ingcareers.com
Neo Community: Support for families in Rock Ferry. ema@neocommunity.org.uk
Further Support after Half Term:
Wirral Infobank: A great online resource for local support and services, including help with shopping, social supermarkets (offering cut price food) and hot food deliveries – visit www.wirralinfobank.co.uk.
Priority supermarket delivery slots: From Iceland or Tesco are available for people who are vulnerable or self-isolating. Residents can apply by calling Wirral’s Coronavirus helpline on 0151 666 5050. The helpline can also advise on assistance that may be available from Age UK Wirral for anyone digitally excluded.
Help with shopping: Several local charities provide a shopping service for vulnerable people and for those self-isolating. To be referred please call Wirral Coronavirus Helpline on 0151 666 5050 or complete a form online www.wirral.gov.uk/welfaresupport.
Food for people in crisis: Anyone requiring crisis food support and who cannot pay for the food they need can apply for an emergency food parcel by calling the Coronavirus helpline on 0151 666 5050. Applicants will be asked a few questions to determine their eligibility and, if successful, will be given a unique code that can be exchanged for a food parcel from Wirral Foodbank. Help is also available for people unable to collect food.
Financial help with food: Financial help is available for those most in need and who have a specific food requirement due to a medical or health condition and/or religious or cultural requirement. Apply online at www.wirral.gov.uk/welfaresupport or by calling the Coronavirus Helpline on 0151 666 5050.
Further to all of this, we'd like to reiterate, if you find yourself unable (or you don't want) to approach any of these establishments or organisations personally, let us know. We will undertake to contact them on your behalf. Complete confidentiality, of course.