Colleges are supporting festive help campaign

Education Partnership North East is joining colleges across the country to support those most in need this Christmas.

With the pandemic continuing to have a significant social and economic impact on so many people, food banks across the country are reporting a huge rise in demand.

Sunderland College, Hartlepool Sixth Form and Northumberland College are working with colleges nationwide to collect 30,000 items for food banks as part of the#FE Festive Food bank Friday campaign.

In addition, a JustGiving page has been launched with the aim of reaching a £12,000 fund-raising target. Funds from this will be divided up between all of the college and distributed to food banks.

Collection bins for food and other non-food donations will be placed across Education Partnership North East campuses, encouraging staff and students to donate food items where they can.

They will also be publishing regular lists of the most needed items to help ensure donations are as useful as possible.

Ruth Magnus, director of student services, said: “Our colleges are at the very heart of their communities and we are proud to pledge our support to theFE Festive Food bank Friday campaign.

“No-one should be going hungry, but our food banks are reporting huge increases in demand due to the on-going pandemic – with an estimated 500,000 people in the UK now reliant on food parcels.

“We are calling on our students, staff and the wider community to come together and help those who need it most in the run up to Christmas.”

To make an financial donation online, go to www. justgiving.com/campaign/FestiveFEFoodbankFriday