Preston Windrush Generation 'urgently' need a new building for volunteers to continue making meals for the vulnerable

The community group has been making around 130 hot caribbean meals to the Windrush Generation, their descendants and the wider community every week during lockdown. It has been using Creativity Works Preston on Shepherd Street but must leave after Friday as the building needs to be ready for the schools reopening in September.

Glenda Andrew, co-founder of the descendants' group, said: "The building we have been at has been absolutely fantastic and we have been able to use it throughout lockdown because the schools have been closed. With the schools going back in less than two weeks time we must find a new place we can call home.

"We are begging the council to give us a building so we can carry on with our volunteer work. I believe the black community of Preston should have its very own building."

Glenda explained how "hard work" has gone into the project during the lockdown period with lots of support.

She said: "It's just one example of how hard working our volunteers are. What goes into making these meals is incredible and with the support of both our volunteers and local businesses it is fantastic, that is why we don't want this Friday to be out last.

"We have lots of stock and we don't know where we are going to put it and we don't want it going to waste."

The community group is hoping to establish itself in a more permanent building where it can offer a wide range of services to the local descendant community.

Glenda said: "It would be fantastic to call a place our home. We are aiming to create an advocacy service for the Windrush generation in the city and also promote things such as well being, cooking and art classes and also working with the police.

"We have not even targeted the young generation so there is so much we could be doing with new facilities. This is a long-term plan with long-term goals not just a short-term project. So my simple message which I want to shout is we need a building."