The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)

Food & Basic Material Support.

The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) Food & Basic Material Support helps support people take their first steps out of poverty and social exclusion.

90% of the funding for this programme comes from the EU with the balance of funding coming from the Irish Exchequer.

The Department of Social Protection manages this programme here in Ireland.

Cork Simon Community benefits from food assistance. The programme provides non-perishable food via their charity partners to families and individuals in need. Food supplied consist of breakfast cereals, rice, pasta and pasta sauce, soups, canned fish, jam, tea, coffee, sugar, and canned vegetables and fruit. The food items are easy to transport and store.