'Save our shed!' Lancashire primary school launches appeal to save 'vital' foodbank supporting 200 people
The foodbank has been running for two years.
A Lancashire primary school is on a mission to save its ‘Sharing Shed’ that supports 200 people a week in the local community.
Staff and pupils at Banks St Stephen’s CE Primary School in Greaves Hall Avenue, Banks, are on a mission to raise £1,500 for a new building to run a foodbank from - or say the vital resource will be lost.
Two years ago the school initially set up what was intended to be a simple book swap for families in an old shed, but after a conversation with a parent who explained they were struggling to afford to feed their children, headteacher Gareth Allen made the decision to expand it into a fully-functioning community bank. It now provides food, toiletries, school uniform, and books.
Mr Allen said: “There is a huge level of need within our community, with a wide range of people accessing the provision. We have regular families who rely on the Sharing Shed to help them provide healthy meals for their children. We have also supported individuals in crisis—for example, a local resident who had been made redundant and, without the Sharing Shed, would not have been able to eat. In addition, a number of elderly residents access food on a weekly basis.
“We have been genuinely shocked by the number of people making use of the Sharing Shed. It has also helped to break down the stigma often associated with food banks. On average, we are now supporting around 200 people each week.”
The school has applied twice for National Lottery funding for help towards a new building, but has not yet been successful. Mr Allen is currently preparing another bid and says he remains “absolutely determined to secure the future of this provision for our whole community.”
Mr Allen added: “We have raised this issue with our local MP, Patrick Hurley, who has kindly shared our fundraising link across his social media platforms. However, we have now reached a point where, without additional funding, we will unfortunately have to close the shed.
“This would mean removing vital support not only for our school families but for the wider Banks community.”