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Prospective parliamentary candidates attend Service of Thanksgiving for Chichester District Foodbank

2nd July 2024

We were honoured to welcome prospective parliamentary candidates for the Chichester and Arundel and South Downs constituencies to our Service of Thanksgiving at Chichester Cathedral on Sunday, 30 June. This special choral evensong was an opportunity for us to highlight the crucial support we provide to community members facing crises due to not being able to afford the essentials.

Joanne Kondabeka, CEO and Founder of Chichester District Foodbank, shared powerful insights:

“In 2023-24, we supported 9,150 people, including 3,933 adults and 5,217 children. These individuals are not defined by using our foodbank but have their own hopes, dreams, gifts, and talents. Their one common factor is that they found themselves in crisis.”

Joanne emphasised the significant role that elected MPs can play in addressing poverty:

“Being voted in as an MP brings with it the power to make a difference. We urge whoever is elected as an MP for the Chichester and Arundel and South Downs constituencies to consider how they can best serve the 1 in 5 households who live below the poverty line.”

Among the attendees were:

  • Gillian Keegan, Conservative candidate for the Chichester constituency, attended with her husband, Michael Keegan.
  • Jess Fuller-Brown, Liberal Democrats parliamentary candidate for the Chichester constituency.
  • Stephen McAuliffe, Green Party candidate for the Arundel and South Downs constituency.

The event, held in partnership with Chichester Cathedral, featured a warm welcome from the Reverend Canon Simon Holland, Interim Dean at Chichester Cathedral. The procession was led by the High Sheriff of West Sussex, Mrs. Philippa Gogarty.

Joanne Kondabeka opened the service, followed by a touching personal story from a community member who had previously received support from Chichester District Foodbank. Joanne also called on the prospective parliamentary candidates to support the Guarantee Our Essentials campaign, advocating for the basic rate of universal credit to cover essential costs and for continued support for children on free school meals during school holidays.

The Mayor of Chichester, Councillor Sarah Quail, read from the Old Testament. The Mayor, who attended with the Mayor’s Consort, Mr. Anthony Quail, has chosen Chichester District Foodbank as this year’s mayoral charity. Reverend Canon Simon Holland delivered the homily, and Reverend Paul Collins, Chair of Trustees at Chichester District Foodbank, led the prayers.

Chichester Cathedral has been a steadfast supporter of Chichester District Foodbank since our foundation ten years ago. As a food donation point, the Cathedral’s community is dedicated to raising vital donations, funds, and awareness to help stop food poverty and support those in crisis in Chichester.

The service concluded with a reception featuring tea, coffee, and cake served in the North Nave, provided by Seasoned, an independently owned boutique caterer running the Cloisters Kitchen and Garden at Chichester Cathedral.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped organise this event and to all those who attended. Your support and participation mean the world to us and play a crucial role in our mission to support those in need within our community.

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