New foodbank collection point launched in Cambourne

Cllr Mark Howell and Emma George at the new foodbank in SCDC's offices


South Cambridgeshire District Council has opened a new foodbank collection point at its offices in Cambourne to help those people in the district who are struggling to afford basic food items.  It's based in the reception area.

Thanks to the generosity of local people, businesses and Council staff, many non-perishable food items such as soup, pasta, rice and tinned meat and fruit have already been donated.

Contributions will be split between Cambridge Foodbank and Huntingdon’s Charity Foodbank in Sawston, who bag up the food to provide a nutritionally balanced three-day supply to families and individuals in need.

The idea for the foodbank came from the Council’s housing policy officer, Emma George, who has witnessed the affect the rising cost of living has had on some residents and who, with colleagues, often makes referrals to local foodbank charities to get vital food to people struggling to make ends meet.

According to The Trussell Trust, in 2012-13 foodbanks fed 346,992 people across the UK. Of those helped, 126,889 were children.

Cllr Mark Howell, portfolio holder for housing, said: “A sudden job loss, unexpected bill, illness, accident or separation cannot be planned for and can often lead to crisis.

“Foodbank charities provide an important service to people for whom finding the next meal can become a desperate problem. We are fortunate that Council staff, local people and businesses have great community spirit with donations already coming in thick and fast.

"We will, however, need a constant supply and are asking local people to think about those less fortunate when they do their weekly shop and pop an extra item in their trolley for our collection.”

The Council invites non perishable dried and tinned food that is in-date and undamaged. Currently both charities are specifically seeking:

  • Tinned rice pudding
  • Tinned sponge pudding
  • Tinned meat, e.g. mince, stewed steak, chicken and pies
  • Tinned fish,
  • Tinned soup
  • Snacks
  • Treats, e.g. small bars of chocolate, packs of sweets
  • Jam
  • Instant coffee (small jars)


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