RUCKSACKS containing a sleeping bag, a stove and warm clothes are to be handed out to homeless people referred to a foodbank.

Men and women who are sleeping rough will be given the backpacks after a visit to Barrow Foodbank, thanks to new funding worth more than £20,000 over four years.

The money has been awarded by the Big Lottery to the Barrow Advice Hub, which is composed of Barrow Foodbank, Mind in Furness , Barrow Citizens Advice Bureau, the Barrow and District Disability Association and Project John.

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The drive is in response to a growing need to support people living on the streets, with the project aimed at people struggling to cope or those who have been evicted.

Important work

Supported housing schemes in the area such as Silverdale Street in Barrow and Bakery Court in Ulverston have also closed in recent months, raising fears of increased homelessness, particularly among youths.

Alison Griffiths , deputy project manager at Barrow Foodbank, says the project is to help people in extreme need.

She said: "The packs have been bought from Winfields and they include a rucksack that has got a sleeping bag, carrier mat, a stove, cooking things - and they get the food from us - a hat and gloves, and clean underwear.

"We are spending money on this because there have been 11 people identified as living on the streets in Barrow .

"They have to be referred to us by somebody who knows them at a referral agency. They will be known as homeless and it will say that on a normal foodbank voucher."

Funding grant

The Big Lottery funding is worth £5,345 each year for four years.

The project is being aimed at people who are living rough rather than somebody who is "sofa surfing".

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It's hoped the packs will stop homeless people from going hungry and give them something soft to lay down on rather than the ground or a bench.

How the scheme works

After meeting a volunteer at Barrow Foodbank, the homeless person will also be signposted to the other members of the Barrow Advice Hub and partnership agencies.

The Barrow Advice Hub has had discussions with the Salvation Army who will provide identified homeless people with facilities to have a shower and the team will also work with St Mark's Church in Buccleuch Street to supply clothes and Cadas for drug and alcohol support.

The initiative is being mirrored at Barrow Foodbank's satellite sites in Millom and Ulverston, where bags will be made available at Crown Street Baptist Church Hall and Bethany Baptist Church respectively.

The money has come from an award from the Big Lottery under the Help Through Crisis funding segment.

Facts and figures about Barrow Foodbank

• Barrow Foodbank has been providing three-days emergency food and support to local people since July 23 2012.

• Barrow Foodbank gave away 7,251 three-day emergency food supplies in 2015/16, 18 per cent less than 2014/15.

• In 2014/15, 8,809 three-day emergency food supplies were provided in Barrow , Millom and Ulverston. Of this number, 3,798 went to children.

• The running costs for Barrow Foodbank are around £50,000 a year, all of which is raised locally. Costs include warehouse space, a van to pick up donated food and deliver to distribution centres, utilities and insurances.

• 66.67 tonnes of food were donated by the local community in 2015/16.