Fleetwood's Covid relief project given £4,700 Christmas gift

Fleetwood Town Council handed a cheque and also 300 gifts to representatives of Fleetwood Together, the umbrella group of local organisations which has tirelessly supported the most vulnerable residents since the pandemic took hold in March.

Shaun MacNeill, one of the coordinators of the Fleetwood Together project, said: "It's a very generous gesture from the town council and another example of the great support that has come from right across the community.

"Sadly it looks like the need is still going to be there well into 2021, because now we are seeing people who have been been working, but have since lost their jobs, needing to use the food bank,

"Many of them would never have dreamt they would need to use a food bank and feel embarrassed about it, but they shouldn't feel that way, it can happen to anyone.

"Many of them are still paying off mortgages and have the same living costs they had before, but they are now struggling on universal credit. Some are still waiting to get their benefits."

Council members Coun Mary Stirzaker, Coun Craig Armstrong, Coun Niall Campbell and town clerk, Irene Tonge, were at the town's Marine Hall to present the cheque and the presents.

The new gifts, suitable for people of all ages, will be given to members of the community who are struggling.

Coun Stirzaker, chairman of the town council, said: "Fleetwood Together is doing vital work and the council has funds put by for emergencies, so we agreed that this was exactly the sort of situation it was needed for.

"It has been a difficult year and hopefully things will eventually get back to some kind of normality further into 2021."

The council has so far donated around £20,000 to Fleetwood Together, which has been supported by organisations across the town.