Oakham: Rutland Foodbank new premises officially open more than a year later due to the pandemic as chairman expresses growing concerns over growing needs

By The Editor

28th Sep 2021 | Local News

The Chairman of Rutland Foodbank Ali Wainright has expressed concerns over growing food poverty in the county.

The issue was also highlighted by Dr Sarah Furness, who opened the foodbank's new premises at 36 Melton Road last week, more than a year later.

The opening had been delayed by the pandemic and its lockdowns, which has worsened relative poverty across the county, and fuelled much growth in the need for the foodbank and its services.

Dr Furness tweeted after the opening: "Congratulations to all #Rutland #foodbank. In the last year they have delivered ingredients for 43,000 #meals. Pleased to at last officially open new premises in #Oakham but concerned that Rutland has real #rural #poverty. Thanks to all."

The opening of the new premises, close to the former centre at 40 Melton Road, took place on the 8th anniversary of the foodbank helping its first client.

In a foreword to this year's Report and Accounts, foodbank chairman Ali Wainwright said: "It remains a matter of concern to me that there is still an ongoing and increasing need for the Foodbank to support Rutland residents in poverty.

"No-one could have foreseen the impact of world-wide events which began in the

first few months of 2020 and beyond.

"If we look back to the 1st of April 2020 we will remember that we were in the very early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic. This report would need to be as long as War and Peace to tell the story of all that happened during the year."

The report and accounts revealed a several-fold increase in both income and expenditure as the foodbank multiplied the support it gave. Over the past six years, the number of meals provided has increased 8-fold to more than 40,000.

Ali Wainright, who also founded the foodbank, had earlier this year, received an MBE from the Queen for her work on it, as previously reported by Nub News.

In the report Ali thanked all the volunteers and supporters, the builders, the delivery teams and all the Rutlanders and businesses who donated food, money and the general support that we received from local press, local charities and from statutory organisations, in particular Rutland County Council.

She commented: "Without everyone working as a team we could have struggled even more than we did so my heartfelt thanks to you all and recognition that Rutland is such a generous community looking after those experiencing some of the worst times of their lives."

Ali added that looking to the future, she is confident the foodbank has the team in place, with the energy, experience and enthusiasm, to cope with the challenges that may lie ahead.