14
January
2020
|
12:01
Europe/Amsterdam

Airport’s Community Trust Fund helps local food club put hunger on freeze

Summary
  • £1,136 donation buys industrial freezer for South Manchester food redistribution programme
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  • Old Moat Quids In Food Club in partnership with Old Moat Children's Centre and Community Minded Ltd will be able to store 412 litres of frozen food for deprived households
  •  
  • Scheme is latest to benefit from Manchester Airport’s Community Trust Fund

A community based partnership will ramp up its efforts to serve hungry households in Old Moat after a generous donation from Manchester Airport’s Community Trust Fund.

The £1,136 contribution allowed Old Moat Quids In Food Club to purchase a 412-litre freezer, which will help store perishable food for families that need it.

The volunteer led food club is co-sited with Old Moat Sure Start and Community Minded, who work with many of the same families, offering a variety of complimentary services to alleviate the impacts of poverty. They work with FareShare, a national food redistribution charity, and social housing provider Southway Housing Trust on a scheme allowing club members to access food that would have gone to waste.

In exchange for a £2 weekly membership fee, those with a M20 postcode who are in receipt of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit can obtain up to £15 worth of quality fresh food.

Having access to a freezer will allow the club to store greater volumes of food with a longer shelf life, helping them keep up with increasing demand for the service.

A spokesperson for the partnership said: “We’re grateful to Manchester Airport’s Community Trust Fund for its support with this initiative, which serves up to 60 households in one of the most disadvantaged areas of South Manchester.

“Without it, many of these households would be struggling to put food on the table. It is a key part of our wider offering for the community and this donation will ensure that we can continue to provide it in a cost-effective way.”

Helen McNabb, Community Relations Lead at Manchester Airport, said: “We are always keen to support schemes such as this one, which offer a vital service to our neighbouring communities with very tangible benefits.

“Since our Community Trust Fund was set up in 1997, we have made over £3.5m of donations to local good causes and we look forward to continuing that support in the new decade.”

For more information on Manchester Airport’s Community Relations programme, or to apply for a grant from the Community Trust Fund, visit https://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/community/.