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In her regular column, Joanne Knowles, Chair of Horsham District Council, takes us behind the scenes of community life - sharing stories from across our District, shining a light on the people, places and projects that make our community thrive and celebrating the spirit of our District.

Celebrating 20 Years of Horsham Matters - My first venture out wearing the beautiful chain of honour was to celebrate Horsham Matters' 20th anniversary - a bittersweet occasion. Over two decades, this remarkable organisation has helped thousands of our residents through some of their most difficult moments. Yet demand for emergency support is higher than ever.

Today, Horsham Matters runs 15 foodbank sessions across the district, providing far more than just food parcels. Clients receive budgeting guidance, benefits checks, advocacy, referrals for further support, and perhaps most importantly, a friendly face during times of crisis. While we would all love to live in a world without foodbanks, the reality is that new clients arrive every week—even as others work through their difficulties and move forward.

The Heart of the Operation: Volunteers - Horsham Matters is powered by around 150 local people who volunteer their time and skills. They help in foodbanks, organise stock, staff the charity shop and online furniture store, run the cafés, and so much more. People volunteer for different reasons, though many are motivated by a desire to give something back.

As one volunteer shared: "Due to my circumstances in my early 20s, I would have been so grateful for a foodbank. Now I enjoy working as a team with like-minded people who want to make a difference for others."

In speaking with volunteers - and from my own experience - you often gain more than you give. There's training, new experiences, wonderful people to meet, and a genuine sense of community.

Linda, another Horsham Matters volunteer, put it beautifully: "Having found myself with more free time, I decided to do something constructive and opted to volunteer with Horsham Matters Food Bank. From the moment I made contact, I felt welcomed and valued. It has given me the chance to connect with my local community and meet some lovely people—not only those who use the foodbank, but my volunteer colleagues too. All in all, a very rewarding experience."

Behind the Scenes - After meeting Kelvin, I visited the Horsham Matters warehouse - packed floor to ceiling with donated furniture sold online to raise funds, alongside food donations, often from supermarkets, that clients can choose from themselves.

If you'd like to donate food smartly, try the free app BankTheFood. It shows you exactly which items are needed to create balanced emergency food parcels, and you can drop them at your local collection point—often located just past the supermarket tills. And don't forget - everyone needs toilet rolls.

Early Intervention Matters - Kelvin explained that one of their greatest challenges is reaching people early enough - before they're facing homelessness or turning to payday loans. If you know someone who is struggling, even if they're working, anyone can self-refer to Horsham Matters. Simply call, WhatsApp, or email, and a member of the team will be in touch.

Find out about how Horsham Matters can help and how you can help Horsham Matters https://www.horsham-matters.org.uk/