No one should face hunger at Christmas or wonder where their next meal is coming from. This current season of uncertainty has exposed the true number of people in our community who live on insecure, low income and rely on foodbank support to keep themselves and their families fed.

We have also seen an increased amount of worry over the removal of the Universal Credit uplift reducing the already precarious income of individuals and families. In Erewash alone a 2021 study by the University of Sheffield has shown:

5.47% of adults suffered from hunger

11.66% struggled to access food

10.28% worried about not having enough food.

We want to continue our reach within Ilkeston and surrounding areas and help to drive down these figures. The range of people we are seeing is also vast from struggling families, homeless people and groups of people who have additional needs. These people tend to fall through the cracks in society and Arena Community supports these people and ensures they have a safe space to come and receive a warm welcome.

Every year we run a Christmas programme, supporting families in Ilkeston, Mansfield, Belper, Nottingham and across the rest of the East Midlands providing Christmas hampers to those who may not have a Christmas day dinner and supplying presents to children who dont get a visit from Santa at Christmas.

The demand for the hampers increases year on year and we are looking to the local public to help us provide the 260+ Christmas hampers we anticipate we will provide this year. This year we will also be providing over 3,000 selection boxes to children in local schools.

If we exceed our target any additional money raised will be used towards the ongoing work of Arena Community.