Ben North

Member since June 11, 2021

I am the Operations Director for The Dockland Settlements Charity. We run three community centres across east London, one of which is the Carpenters and Docklands Community Centre in Stratford on the Carpenters' Estate, where we also run a Food Bank.

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Ben North1 year ago Little Steps is a dedicated project supporting babies and their parents or carers during the crucial early years. At its core is a free, baby-specific food bank, providing essential items such as baby food, formula milk, nappies, clothing, hygiene products, toys, and second-hand equipment like cots and buggies. These will be distributed three times a week in a welcoming, stigma-free environment. Alongside the food bank, we will run free Baby Play and Baby Sensory sessions, designed to support infant development while giving parents the chance to connect, socialise and share experiences. We’ll also offer Baby First Aid courses and occasional treats for the parents - chosen by them!

Ben North3 years ago January 2024, Project Completion UpdateThe Food Bank and Warm Haven have both continued providing much needed support to some of the most vulnerable people in Newham, thanks to the financial support from People, Power, Places. We are very grateful to everyone who voted for us enabling us to grow our provision and help even more people. The latest snapshot figures show that these projects help more than 1400 people every single week, through the provision of food, toiletries, cleaning products, women's sanitary products and for many of the people who come along, some companionship and fun. We are very grateful to all of the volunteers, supporters, donors and of course to Newham and their staff. Original Request for Help:The Carpenters' and Docklands Community Centre desperately needs funding to continue and expand our Food Bank and Warm Haven.These projects support some of the most vulnerable, disadvantaged and lonely people in Newham, opening three mornings a week providing food, hygiene products, cleaning products, advice and a friendly place to anyone who feels they could do with the help. We support the elderly, rough sleepers, students, refugees, asylum seekers, families and individuals struggling with the cost of living.We offer advice, care, sympathy and support. People attending our Warm Haven can have a hot shower, charge their devices, enjoy some company with some hot food and drinks.All of this costs money and we are also struggling with increased prices of energy and food etc, so we would appreciate your support and votes so we can continue these important projects.

Ben North4 years ago Parents and guardians will be able to come and collect a hot meal and dessert for their children every weekday after the school run. We want to ensure children in our borough don't go hungry and we want to take the stress and worries away from parents, many of whom have to skip meals or buy cheap, low quality, unhealthy food for their children.This is a very real and serious problem for many families in Newham and will only get worse as the cost of living crisis worsens. The take away box will enable the parents or guardians to reheat the food at a suitable time, as part of a family meal using plates and cutlery etc.

Ben North5 years ago JANUARY 2022 UPDATE ! We are in the process of applying for more funds towards the cost of the vehicle and have submitted applications to the Clothworkers Foundation, Ford Britain Trust and Newham's Additional Restrictions Grant and hope we are successful so we are able to purchase the vehicle soon. Our charity trustees have also promised a contribution of 5k towards this project. Will hopefully get some good news soon from the funders! Our food bank was able to remain open every Monday and Friday throughout the Christmas and New Year period thanks to the wonderful support of our volunteers made up of Newham residents! The sooner we get this vehicle, the sooner we can expand the food bank from two days a week to three. MACE Group are also about to build our extension (pro bono) on the side of our community centre to house the food bank. We have also opted for an electric vehicle so it is in line with Newham's environmental aims as well as our own. We plan to also use the vehicle for our subsidised playcare service which will mean more kids can go on trips to the seaside, Go Ape, Canvey Island Fair, Bowling etc throughout their school holidays. If anyone wants more information or to visit our Food Bank please contact Ben.North@docklandsettlements.org.uk. ************************************************************************Our charity, The Carpenters and Docklands Community Centre, needs a second hand van to support our food and clothes banks as well as huge variety of other charitable projects in Stratford and West Ham.Our food bank supports more than 350 people a week directly and thousands indirectly. We provide food to people currently placed in temporary accommodation and the most vulnerable (elderly, shielding or low income) individuals and families on the Carpenters Estate. Indirectly we support thousands across the borough by providing food to numerous other food-poverty organisations.We will also use the van for the collection and delivery of donated items. We often run appeals when someone approaches us asking us to source them a pram or child’s bed etc.The van would also be used to support community, voluntary sector groups and other registered charities in the Stratford and West Ham through whatever means it was needed. This may be to help transport plants and fertilizer for a growing project, or self-defence equipment for a women’s safety project. The uses are endless and we expect demand to be high and multiply as word spreads.

Ben North

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Little Steps: A Baby-Focused Food Bank and Wellbeing Project for Parents.

Our Food Bank and Warm Haven Need Help! January 2025, Project Completion Update

Supper Club for Kids!

Community Van Needed for Food & Clothes Bank & Other Charitable Projects!-£7500