Worthing Food Foundation and Hill Barn Golf Club tee off a new community partnership thanks to Worthing & Adur Chamber
The power of networking was brought to the fore at February’s members’ breakfast meeting at Hill Barn Golf, a popular and welcoming public golf course with wonderful views to the coast. Among the new guests was Fiona Gallagher of the Worthing Food Foundation, a volunteer-led foodbank supporting 1,000 people across Worthing every month. The charity was set up by local residents at the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020 and operates on a non-referral, ‘food first’ basis – anyone in need can contact the foodbank and will be supported for at least 12 weeks. Fiona’s 60 second introduction highlighted the growing demand for the foodbank’s services as a result of the cost of living crisis, and an appeal for business and community support to help families in need throughout Worthing. Andrew Smedley, Hill Barn’s General Manager, was so inspired by this that he offered there and then to nominate the foodbank charity as the beneficiary of Hill Barn’s inaugural Worthing Business Championships on Friday April 21st. The event is open to teams of four of any ability from businesses in Worthing and Adur, and will take place from 11am, with refreshments and networking before tee off and prizes for the top three teams. Ahead of the event, Hill Barn have already started collecting food donations for the foodbank and will offer raffle prizes and encourage teams to support the foodbank on the day.
Fiona says ‘Without Worthing & Adur Chamber, I would not have met Andrew and been able to create an exciting new community partnership with him and his team at Hill Barn. All of us at Worthing Food Foundation are really grateful to Hill Barn for their generous support for the foodbank, and look forward to a fun day of golf and networking later this month.’
Andrew says ‘I was nervous when helping to host a Worthing & Adur Chamber Breakfast Meeting but listening to the speakers, I was enthused to hear so many interesting stories. I was able to share a coffee with Fiona who was incredibly passionate about the Worthing Food Foundation and I felt Hill Barn Golf Club could offer some support. I am looking forward to hosting the Worthing Business Golf Championships in support of the Worthing Food Foundation and continuing or partnership into the future.”
For more information about the Worthing Food Foundation and how you can donate time, money or food to help it continue to support local families, please email Fiona at fcegallagher@gmail.com or visit www.worthingfoodfoundation.org.uk. For more information about the Hill Barn Golf Club, please email Andrew.Smedley@hillbarngolf.com or visit www.hillbarngolf.com.