Southport Slimming World Members Rally for Foodbank Drive and Charity Causes

SLIMMING World members from across Southport have come together in a remarkable and heartfelt display of generosity, kindness, and unity to support National Foodbank Awareness day, and International day, of Charity on:- Friday, 5 September 2025. The response from local groups has been nothing short of inspiring, with tables overflowing with donations of food and hygiene products to help families in crisis in our community.

This incredible effort was made possible by the unwavering commitment of members attending groups at Ainsdale Methodist Church on:- Friday, evenings and Fleetwood Hesketh on:- Saturday, mornings, both led by Consultant Kelly, and the Tuesday, morning group at Kew Church alongside the Tuesday, eveninggroup at Fleetwood Hesketh, led by Consultant Nicola. Together, these members went above and beyond; collecting hundreds of essential items including:- cereals, tinned goods, pasta and rice, toiletries, baby nappies and wipes, female hygiene products and much more.

"Our members lift each other up every single week, and that care, compassion and community spirit extends far beyond the doors of group. We cannot thank them enough for the heart they have poured into this drive."

According to the Trussell Trust, nearly 3 million emergency food parcels were distributed across the UK last year. Locally, Southport Foodbank reported a 30% increase in demand, with more than 18,000 meals provided in 2024. The rising cost of living continues to push families toward food support services, making the kindness and generosity of Slimming World members more vital than ever.

A member said:- "This is about dignity. If we can help someone feel seen and supported, even through a tin of soup or a bottle of shampoo, that's worth everything."

The foodbank drive is just 1 of many charitable efforts embraced by the Slimming World community. Thanks to the dedication of its members, in August 2025, saw Kelly and District Manager Fiona take on a skydive for Queenscourt Hospice, raising an incredible £4,850. This October (2025), members are once again stepping up; collecting bras for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and turning everyday, items into life saving support.

Beyond their charitable work, members continue to support each other through weekly group sessions that focus on the psychology of lasting change. Slimming World's approach helps members reframe their thinking, shift deep rooted behaviours and build sustainable habits that support long term weight loss and wellbeing. "It's about gaining confidence, connection and a sense of belonging," said Kelly. "When those foundations are in place, real transformation becomes possible."

Slimming World is more than a weight loss group. It is a community held together by the extraordinary kindness, compassion and community spirit of its members. Their efforts are not only changing their own lives but lifting up countless others across Southport.

If you're looking for a place where you'll be welcomed with warmth, encouraged with kindness and supported every step of the way, come and join us. Whether you're starting your journey or returning to it, there's a seat waiting for you and a community ready to cheer you on with open arms.

TRUSSELL'S analysis estimates that across the North West in:- 2024, over:- 2.5 million people (2,570,000), including:- 670,000 children, faced hunger due to a lack of money. That's the equivalent of:- 1 in 4 households and more than the entire combined populations of Lancashire and Cheshire, and the highest number of people facing hunger in any Region of England.

Alarmingly, the survey, conducted by Ipsos, finds that children aged:- 0 to 5 in the North West are growing up in almost:- 1 in 5 households who have had to access emergency food from a food bank in the Trussell community in the past year. The true number is likely to be even higher, as this figure does not account for families supported by other food aid providers, or families who have not sought any help at all.

The charity's landmark report also reveals the growing reality that paid work is no longer enough to prevent people in the North West from needing a food bank. 30% of people referred to food banks in Trussell community are part of a household where someone is in work. People in manual and service roles; such as:- bus drivers and care workers; are among the working people most likely to face hunger, despite having a job.

Trussell found that very low incomes are the main driver of growing hunger and food bank need in the North West. Overwhelmingly, this is caused by flaws in the design and delivery of the social security system, compounded by too many jobs being inaccessible, insecure and not paying enough to cover essential living costs.

The survey of people referred to food banks revealed that, across the UK, families at food banks are left with just £104 a week after housing costs to cover all living expenses including:- food, utility bills, travel for work or School, and essential toiletries like shampoo and toothpaste. This is just 17% of what the average UK household has left after rent or mortgage payments, laying bare the harsh reality faced by too many people who are struggling to make ends meet.

The research shows 52% of people in receipt of Universal Credit across the UK faced hunger in the previous year and 23% were forced to access a food bank or other charitable food provision. Too often, social security isn't providing the protection people need when work doesn't pay; the majority (72%) of people in working households who have still needed to turn to food banks are also eligible to receive Universal Credit to top up their income.

Trussell finds that millions of people are facing hunger without reaching out to charitable food providers, revealing how hunger is becoming increasingly normalised in communities across the UK. Research among the general population in the UK shows that 61% of households who were going without food, did not access any form of charitable food support in the past year. Many (55%) didn't feel like they should because they did not feel they were facing financial hardship, 32% that they did not think they were in enough need, and 23% because they thought other people were in greater need than them. But when people's incomes are so low, the research shows that even a small change in household circumstance; such as:- a car breaking down, a bus route being cut or an unexpected bill; can be the tipping point that leaves them with no option, but, to turn to a food bank. This comes at a time when food banks are already under enormous pressure and many are struggling to meet extremely high levels of need, with over 330,000 parcels provided by food banks in the Trussell community in the past year alone.

Trussell says this report should serve as a stark warning for the UK Government to take urgent and meaningful action to meet its manifesto commitment to end the need for emergency food. This includes:- scrapping the 2 child limit to ensure all children have the best start in life and providing better support to private renters on low incomes to keep up with the real cost of rents by uprating Local Housing Allowance in line with current rent levels. These actions would be positive steps towards reducing the need for food banks and lifting more people out of severe hardship.

Helen Barnard, Director Of Policy, Research and Impact, at Trussell, said:- "Hunger and hardship are increasingly seen as a normal part of everyday, life in the North West. This is not an inevitable trend, but the result of systems that urgently need updating; particularly our social security system. It isn't right that millions of people from all walks of life; including:- pensioners, disabled people, working families, and carers; are struggling to make ends meet. Nobody in the North West should face hunger. The UK Government rightly committed to end the need for food banks and ensure every child has the best possible start in life; this research is the benchmark against which they will be judged. Parents are telling us they are losing sleep, worrying about how they will pay for new shoes, school trips, keep the lights on, or afford the bus fare to work. We have already created a generation of children who've never known life without food banks. That must change. We have seen small steps of progress. We now need the UK Government to match urgency with ambition to turn the tide of hunger and hardship, for good."

Paul Harris, Project Manager at Salford Foodbank, said:- "Hunger has become normalised in Salford because people just don't have enough money to afford the essentials. As a food bank, we provide emergency food to support people through their toughest times; but this shouldn't be needed in the 1st place. Everyone deserves the dignity of being able to feed their family and we need urgent, systemic change so that nobody is forced to turn to a food bank. As rents go up, bills go up, and the cost of food goes up, we are seeing people on benefits and low incomes struggling and coming through our doors in increasing numbers. It feels like there is no way out of poverty for some people, and we need the Government to take action now."