Colchester Foodbank is at Risk

The future of Colchester Foodbank is at risk after its Directors issued an urgent plea to find a permanent home for the organisation.

The Foodbank has been based at the Tollgate Retail Park for the past three years, but the landlord, who had allowed the charity to use the premises for free, is looking to redevelop the site. The Foodbank has contacted Colchester City Council, the NHS, the Army and the University of Essex for help to find a new base, and is also speaking to estate agents but has been unable to find a suitable premises. 

It runs 10 smaller sites around the city to make accessing its services easier, but these do not have enough space to store donations and deliveries so the Foodbank still needed about 7,000 sq ft (650 sq m) of space. Losing its main base would also mean losing “vital” services, such as on-site referrals to Citizens Advice and the City Council.  The number of people using the service had risen from about 7,000 four years ago to 24,500 last year.

Can you help? If so, please contact the Foodbank via its website colchester.foodbank.org.uk or via its social media pages.”