{"id":26592,"date":"2020-11-18T15:43:21","date_gmt":"2020-11-18T15:43:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=26592"},"modified":"2020-11-19T10:07:20","modified_gmt":"2020-11-19T10:07:20","slug":"a-phoenix-for-christmas-dinner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=26592","title":{"rendered":"A Phoenix for Christmas Dinner?"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bDo you know some kind person came into the Phoenix Centre today, bringing whole trays of homemade sandwiches \u00e2\u20ac\u201c we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re really very lucky,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Unite Community member and anti-hunger campaigner Brian Green told me last week when I spoke to him about what he and the team of Unite Norwich volunteers were up to.<\/p>\n

If his name sounds familiar that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s because Brian and the team have been relentless in their struggle to feed hungry families \u00e2\u20ac\u201c which we have reported on for some years now.<\/p>\n

Working out of the Phoenix Centre, the team have been feeding whoever turns up \u00e2\u20ac\u201c first during the school holidays, then over the Christmas season. Unite Community and local community volunteers have pulled together to make the Phoenix the helping and welcoming place for families it has become.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe local community, mainly four outstanding Phoenix volunteers, has now taken the lead on this project,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Brian explains. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThat was our intention \u00e2\u20ac\u201c it should come from everyone, not just Unite Community. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s about solidarity \u00e2\u20ac\u201c not charity,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he adds.<\/p>\n

This year with the challenges of the first and now the second Covid lockdown the team and their workload has grown exponentially. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bEveryone wants to help,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 says Brian, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bsupport for us has ballooned since the pandemic.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

The work of Unite Community members and local volunteers is so highly thought of that this band of food champions are now recognised by local foodbanks who supply some food \u00e2\u20ac\u201c as well as social services \u00e2\u20ac\u201c who now help fund the Phoenix team for enough ingredients to make up five days\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 worth of packed lunches and one weekly hamper. Even the area\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s well respected local paper, the Eastern Daily Press<\/em> is fully behind the scheme \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and a supporting letter was sent from the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, no less!<\/p>\n

Over the last two weeks of the summer holiday when parents had used up their school lunch vouchers, they turned to us in larger numbers. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt was manic,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 says Brian. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe uptake for the service was up 50 per cent on last summer. As ever we try to supply balanced meals with a hamper of fresh fruit and veg.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Brian Green in the Phoenix Centre’s kitchen\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Joining the fight a local group of grass roots activists has formed, Norfolk Against Holiday Hunger (NAHH) \u00e2\u20ac\u201c with its twin aims \u00e2\u20ac\u0098to extend and expand free school meals into every holiday and to every child that needs it.<\/p>\n

One of Brian\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s favourite maxims is \u00e2\u20ac\u015bProviding assistance while organising resistance,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 and the campaign is gathering a strong following, including among some local head teachers. This is important as often children are suffering in silence \u00e2\u20ac\u201c not knowing that help is at hand. Brian hopes that, as teachers are best placed to spread the word, these children and their families will hear about the scheme and know they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll get a warm welcome at the Phoenix Centre.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n

Last day of Autumn half term holiday:<\/strong><\/em> “We were run off our feet – the queue lasted for well over an hour. We provided about 240 packed lunches,” says Brian .\u00c2\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been working against holiday hunger for three and a half years now as a trade union with Unite Community and industrial members. I believe trade unions should be doing more of this work \u00e2\u20ac\u201c it shouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t just be left up to churches and charities. We should be encouraging more members to get involved in schemes like this one,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he believes.<\/p>\n

The team\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s hampers have proved to be especially popular with families at the Phoenix. Variety is the spice of life as they say \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and in this case \u00e2\u20ac\u201c the spice of hampers. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe like to ring the changes,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Brian explains. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve done a \u00e2\u20ac\u0098fry up\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 box with all the ingredients you would need, a \u00e2\u20ac\u0098fish and chips\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 box, a \u00e2\u20ac\u0098chicken dinner\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 box \u00e2\u20ac\u201c they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve all gone down well.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

And the work never stops. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been supporting people since the beginning of the outbreak. Families, as I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve said, but also those who have lost their job, been made redundant, or who are just finding life tough right now. Demand has gone up five-fold. Everyone is welcome. They can just turn up \u00e2\u20ac\u201c we never ask questions.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

With Christmas getting ever closer Brian and the team have everything in hand for the big day. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThis year from two weeks before Christmas Day we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be taking orders from families for hampers \u00e2\u20ac\u201c everything they need for a Christmas Day chicken or turkey lunch. We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re expecting to give out 150 to 200 hampers,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 says Brian.<\/p>\n

The chickens come from Morrison\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s who has given the team a generous 40 per cent discount. It feels like the whole community is pulling together. Brian reports that an extra \u00c2\u01411,500 pounds was raised in the last couple of weeks with welcome donations including those from the city council and the Times Community Fund.<\/p>\n

But a Christmas Day hamper is just for, well, Christmas. And unlike most charities the Phoenix team will be serving hot and cold lunch choices throughout the festive period \u00e2\u20ac\u201c with the option of a hamper for New Year too.<\/p>\n

Hunger doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t stop for Christmas <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bI believe it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s vital to continue over the Christmas period,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 says Brian. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bHunger doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t stop for Christmas and neither do we.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

Which is all great news for families in Norwich \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and elsewhere in Norfolk as Unite Community Coordinator for the region, Vic Paulino, reports.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bI absolutely support and want to officially thank all the Norfolk Unite Community volunteers who give their free time to the Phoenix holiday hunger project, a project that is now self-funding which is a credit to them,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Vic says.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bOur volunteers at the Phoenix project fit in totally with Unite the Union\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Christmas Appeal launched by Steve Turner last week, with this in mind.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe Norfolk Unite Community branch will be launching the Yarmouth holiday hunger Christmas project next week \u00e2\u20ac\u201c it would be lovely if the industrial branches thinking of donating to the Unite Christmas Appeal would contact me (details below) and I will put them in contact with the Norfolk Unite Community branch secretary, Niahl Hubbard.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

As Vic points out, Unite has indeed now launched a Christmas Appeal for members to get involved with or donate to.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bEven before the pandemic, food bank usage under the Tories\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 merciless attacks on the social safety net had rocketed,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 says Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bFor years, Unite Community activists across the UK have been witness to desperate families being punished by a welfare system that left them unable to feed their children or pay for even the most basic of necessities.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe government, almost exclusively made up of politicians lucky enough to have never gone through the indignities of claiming benefits, have been content to ignore the spiralling child poverty and profound social deprivation their policies have unleashed.<\/p>\n

Tory government shames our country <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt shames our country\u00c2\u00a0that in 21st\u00c2\u00a0<\/sup>century Britain, charities and food banks are having to step in because our government has washed its hands of responsibility for those most in need of help.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe coronavirus has thrown countless workers onto the mercies of Universal Credit and other benefits and thousands more will follow before the crisis is over. In its current form, the welfare system is a trap that needlessly perpetuates poverty and hopelessness,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he added.<\/p>\n

Steve concluded, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bAs well as continuing to pressure the government to fix the country\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s broken social security system, this winter Unite is also running a Christmas appeal to help struggling families by raising funds and donations for local food banks and other grassroots charities.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

Unite raising funds to fight hunger and to maintain initiatives like the Phoenix is crucial. As Brian tells us, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bNothing good lasts forever. The extra Covid government funding we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been receiving won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t exist after March. Everyone \u00e2\u20ac\u201c families, union members, unemployed \u00e2\u20ac\u201c we \u00c2\u00a0all have to join together in the fight against hunger.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

UNITElive <\/em>wishes Brian and the Phoenix team every success this Christmas \u00e2\u20ac\u201c as we do all our fantastic Unite members \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and thank you for supporting the Unite Christmas Appeal.<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

WANT TO HELP OUT WITH UNITE\u00e2\u20ac\u2122S CHRISTMAS APPEAL? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Our union’s branches and amazing members can make a real difference to so many this winter. Unite Community branches\u00c2\u00a0can help you identify your local food bank\u00c2\u00a0\u00e2\u20ac\u201c contact community@unitetheunion.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Visit our campaign website<\/a> for contacts and downloads<\/p>\n

LIVE IN NORFOLK? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Can you help Unite Community in Norwich or Yarmouth? If so please contact Vic Paulino, Unite Community Coordinator, London and Eastern Region at vic.paulino@unitetheunion.org<\/a><\/p>\n

By Amanda Campbell @amanda_unite <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been working against holiday hunger for three and a half years now as a trade union with Unite Community and industrial members. I believe trade unions should be doing more of this work \u00e2\u20ac\u201c it shouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t just be left up to churches and charities. We should be encouraging more members to get involved in schemes like this one,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he believes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":24421,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[17],"tags":[1004,1271,174,232],"wps_subtitle":"From packed lunches to Christmas Dinner hampers, Unite food hero Brian Green and the local community team at the Phoenix Centre in Norwich are working flat out to ensure hunger has no place at this festive season\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s table","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26592"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26592"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26592\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26612,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26592\/revisions\/26612"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26592"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26592"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26592"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}