Our foodbank has been transformed thanks to students from South Tyneside College
A South Tyneside foodbank has been transformed thanks to South Tyneside College students.
The Key to Life Foodbank has been transformed thanks to a partnership project with Volunteer It Yourself (VIY), a national community interest company that helps young people gain trade and employability skills while improving local spaces.
VIY volunteers, who are art and construction students from South Tyneside College, wrapped up a full programme of improvements at the South Shields foodbank.
Their work included decorating, creating new wall murals led by Neil Gibbins, building new shelving, and transforming the kitchen, fresh/freezer room and back-door area.
As a result of their work, the project has made the working environment brighter, cleaner, more welcoming and far more efficient for the staff, volunteers and clients who rely on the foodbank every day.
Jo Benham Brown, Business Development and Communities Manager at Key Community, has welcomed the improvements to the foodbank.
She said: “This was such a fantastic opportunity.
“Our building had been very well-used and was in real need of some care and attention.
“This project not only improved our space but also gave local young people the chance to learn valuable skills and gain a City & Guilds qualification.”
Shaid Nazir, Project Manager (North) at Volunteer It Yourself, added: “We were delighted to work with Key to Life on this project.
“It provided young people in South Tyneside with hands-on experience, teamwork skills and the chance to see the real impact they could make in their community.
“Everyone involved came away with something tangible, both for their CVs and for the community itself."
Work began at the Key to Life Foodbank on November 17 and took two weeks to complete - with the foodbank remaining open to members of the public so they can access support as normal.
You can find out more about Key to Life at: https://keycommunity.org.uk/.