BH Live has shown the local community some love this week with a bumper food donation, which has been collected and distributed in co-ordination with BCP Council.
For people living in emergency accommodation and vulnerable housing, the lockdown means a need for even greater support, as families and individuals struggle to make ends meet. Community organisations St Mungo’s, BCHA and Faithworks, who co-ordinate foodbanks across the BCP area, provide vital food deliveries to these groups, ensuring they have lunches and evening meals every day of the week.
Unfortunately, the lockdown has caused food bank donations to decrease.
The donations of meat, dairy, vegan products, cakes, snacks and drinks have been gathered by the BH Live venues and leisure centres, including Bournemouth International Centre, Littledown, Bournemouth Pavillion, Pelhams, Corfe Mullen and Queen’s Park, and will go a long way to helping those who need it most.
BH Live’s Head of Hospitality, David Christie co-ordinated the delivery. He said: “We are pleased to be able to continue supporting our community in this way and are grateful to the Council, and our volunteers from the hospitality team, who have given up their time to make this happen.”
David Chidwick, Homelessness Projects Manager from Faithworks added: “This is a very difficult time for all of us – but it is also bringing to light lovely stories of hope and kindness. Working with BCP Council, the Church and community are creating food packs for some of the most vulnerable people in our society who have been brought into temporary accommodation. That has meant ramping up the supply of food for those packs: therefore the donations from the BH Live team are SO helpful!”
BCP Council Leader Vikki Slade was pleased to see the display of community spirit in action: “We welcome the donation from BH Live and this is a great example of how local organisations across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are pulling together during the Covid-19 pandemic. Donations of good quality surplus food not only help to feed vulnerable people in our communities but it also prevents unnecessary food waste. Any other food businesses who can offer their support can contact us through our online form found on our website.
BH Live operates a number of leisure centres and other venues across the BCP area in partnership with the BCP Council to help get the community moving with a wide range of sport and gym facilities and classes. To find out more about them, visit their website.