Tuesday 7 April 2015

Contractor J Tomlinson and others thanked for food bank support

Supporters of a Nottingham food bank which annually helps 3,000 people in crisis have been officially thanked for their generosity. 
Bestwood and Bulwell Food Bank invited a number of companies, organisations and individuals to its home at St Philips Church, Top Valley, to thank them for throwing a lifeline to the charity. Each has provided a vital contribution to the food bank, which is run in partnership with local churches in Bestwood, Bulwell, and Basford. 
Nottingham-based contractor J Tomlinson provided a large container unit so that food can be safely stored at the site after being approached by construction consultancy Turner & Townsend who heard that the food bank needed new storage facilities. Nottingham City Homes asked doors and windows supplier Nationwide Windows for help with a new door for the church to increase security, which the company was happy to provide. Supermarket chain Tesco also stepped in to offer additional storage room, while representatives and young people from the National Citizen Service helped to prepare the site for the container. The young people also raised £1,000 for the charity by cycling the equivalent distance from Land’s End to John-O-Groats on static bikes. 
The Rev Andy Morris, vicar of St Philips and St Matthews Church, and secretary of Bestwood and Bulwell Food Bank, said: “The support that all these organisations and individuals have given us has been incredible and it enables us to provide a service that’s desperately needed in the financial climate that we are in. 
“We are feeding about 3,000 people a year, which tends to be about 30,000 meals, and over a year we deal with about 25 tonnes of food in total. As well as on-going donations, twice a year we receive about three tonnes of donated food from collections from customers of Tesco at Top Valley, so it’s very important for us and the people we help that we have somewhere where we can safely store these generous donations. Without Right Track, the social enterprise that previously supported us for 18 months with storage, and our latest benefactors, the food bank would find it a challenge to operate so effectively.” 
The Sheriff of Nottingham Coun Jackie Morris also attended the official thank you, along with representatives from J Tomlinson, Turner & Townsend, Nottingham City Homes, Nationwide Windows, Tesco and the National Citizen Service. 
Martin Gallagher, Construction Managing Director at J Tomlinson, who attended with Head of Business Development Nikki Foreman, said: “When we heard at J Tomlinson that Bestwood and Bulwell Food Bank needed new storage facilities for donations, we were happy to step in and loan one of our large containers. As a Nottingham-based company, we regularly support local charities and good causes in appreciation of the key role they play in our community.” 
Part of the Trussell Trust network, the food bank was launched in 2012 and is one of four in Nottingham run under the Trussell banner. It is open Tuesdays and Thursdays between 1pm and 3pm and on Saturdays from 10am to noon. 

It provides three days of emergency food to people who are given vouchers by care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers, CAB and police who have identified people in crisis. Schools, churches, businesses and individuals all donate non-perishable, in-date food to the food bank.
Press release issued by Nottingham PR agency Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk