LETTER: Clarification on funding for provision of food parcels

Thank you to those writing into the Gazette in support of the Ilkley provision of food parcels for families in poverty in Ilkley, however there is misreporting of the town council voting. The council voted unanimously for the funding for this Christmas's provision, and this meant we could provide food parcels to all the families in Ilkley on free school meals who needed help. However the town council was divided on the ongoing funding. The ongoing funding of £8,000 a year was to help us provide two more parcels per family in 2024 - £40 a family over the year. We have also received funding from Bradford Council which (a) means we can support families at IGS who don't live in Ilkley and (b) provide support in the half term holidays. However the record of this in letters to the gazette was not accurate. One conservative councillor voted for this ongoing funding, the rest of the conservative group voted either against or abstained. Everyone else voted for the funding so it was carried. This annual funding means we can properly plan to provide some food for families in the school holidays when they cannot access free school meals.