Business Centre welcomes foodbank with open arms

"We are very grateful to the county council and all the businesses in the centre that have made us so welcome and been so generous."

Nuneaton Foodbank is well-equipped to tackle rising demand for its services after moving into a new home at the Centenary Business Centre.

The Foodbank, which has operated under The Trussell Trust since 2013, faced a worrying future earlier this year when its previous base was put up for sale.

But a perfect solution has been found after they occupied two units at the Warwickshire County Council-run Centenary Business Centre in Hammond Close on the Attleborough Fields Industrial Estate.

The units are used to store food to be distributed to the foodbank's four centres which open across town for part of every weekday.

Nuneaton Foodbank's Projects and Operations Manager, Richard Fleming is delighted with the new base - and the warm welcome and support offered by the county council and other business at the centre.

"It has been a great move for us," he said. "We needed to find another home and it is fantastic to be settled into it at a time when demand in the town is dramatically increasing. We have traditionally delivered to our centres once a day, but at times in the last month I have been delivering twice a day.

"At such an important time, the set-up and facilities here are ideal for us. One of our units is right next to the delivery ramp so is perfect for unloading supplies. As part of the business centre, it is also secure which is so important - at one of our previous bases we were twice broken into.

"Parking was an issue at both our previous homes too but the situation here is much better in that way. We are very grateful to the county council and all the businesses in the centre that have made us so welcome and been so generous. One business-owner passed by our door and found out what we do and came back an hour later to donate some tins!"

Warwickshire County Council's Portfolio Holder for Economy and Place, Cllr Martin Watson, is pleased that the Centenary Centre has provided the perfect home to an organisation which is so important to the community.

"Nuneaton Foodbank does excellent work in the town and it's great that the base they now have at the business centre works so well for them. I look forward to them making their long-term home there.

"I am pleased, but not at all surprised, to hear that other businesses at the centre have rallied round and been so welcoming. It is a really supportive community there, both among the entrepreneurs in the units and the staff who run the centre so well."

Centenary Business Centre is run by Warwickshire Business Centres who have fully managed office and industrial units from 200-12000 sq ft in size right across the county. They are home to many growing businesses but were more than happy to support such an important local charity when they needed help, as units were available.

Any local businesses looking for office or industrial space should contact Luke Pulford at lukepulford@warwickshire.gov.uk 

For more details about Nuneaton Foodbank, please visit https://nuneaton.foodbank.org.uk/

To donate, please visit their Justgiving page, https://nuneaton.foodbank.org.uk/2021/10/25/just-giving-donations/