New home for city’s foodbank
EXPANSION PLAN AFTER PROPERTY FIRM DONATES PREMISES
BRITAIN’S largest foodbank is spreading its wings thanks to the help of North East property giant UK Land Estates.
The Newcastle West End Foodbank, which distributes £10,000 worth of food each week throughout the region, is about to move into new premises on the Tyne Tunnel Estate.
Estate owners UK Land Estates are donating a recently refurbished unit to Angels of the North – an organisation which provides support to both donors and charities.
The foodbank is now set to be the main beneficiary of the building.
David Gibbs, UK Land Estates’ lettings surveyor, said: “We have a longstanding relationship with Angels of the North and we wanted to do something to help the West End Foodbank.
“We are continuing to make significant investments at the Tyne Tunnel Estate, which is paying off in terms of economic development and jobs growth.
“We are pleased that, at the same time, we can do something to help Angels of the North and, in particular, a fantastic organisation in the West End Foodbank.”
The foodbank, which operates across Newcastle, Tyneside and Northumberland, has recently formed a link with Newcastle United.
The new building will help the charity to expand as it is currently responsible for 5% of the UK’s total foodbank output. Michael Nixon, chief executive officer of the foodbank, said: “We support 300 families, or 1,000 individuals, each and every week.
“We are supported by volunteering groups from local and national companies such as Greggs, Newcastle Building Society, EE and Vodafone and we are delighted to welcome UK Land Estates as our latest corporate sponsor.
“Our food donations have increased massively since we gained the support of Newcastle United and their supporters. We are also supported nationally by some 25 other foodbanks, who donate their surplus items to us on a regular basis.
“This involves sending a van to London and the south east at least once per week to service these donations, and the generosity of UK Land Estates helps us greatly with our ability to meet a growing need.
“We hope that in the future there will be no requirement for foodbanks but things are likely to get tougher for the most vulnerable in our society before there are signs of improvement, and this new unit at the Tyne Tunnel Estate will help us meet that need.”