A popular initiative from 2020 was repeated this December when employees based in our Cambridge office once again organised a collection for the local Foodbank. Despite so many of our people working remotely, we were delighted to be able to drop off more than £250 worth of much needed food and toiletries to help local families in time for Christmas.
It was all part of a wider project promoted by our mental health and wellbeing programme Encore Life to give back to the communities in which we operate.
Cambridge City Foodbank is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by the Trussell Trust. The Trussell Trust recently announced the national data on foodbank use during the pandemic, revealing that, between April 2020 and March 2021, a record 2.5 million emergency food parcels were distributed to people in crisis by Trussell Trust foodbanks. This equates to a 33% increase on the previous year and a 128% increase on the same period five years ago (2015/16).
Everything from handwash and detergent to squash, noodles and store cupboard staples was included in the donation.
Cambridge City foodbanks operate from seven locations in and around the city centre - including one at St Paul's Church Centre just opposite Encore's head office in Hills Road so it was a cause that everyone could identify with and was keen to support.
Read more information about the work of the Cambridge City Foodbank at their website here.