Our Family Enterprise Trust awards grant to Finchley Foodbank
Our Family Enterprise Trust awards grant to Finchley Foodbank
By Abigail Price, Social Value Advisor
Just a short walk from 56 The Bishop’s Avenue, where we’re proud to be delivering a landmark project, another kind of work is taking place.
It’s quieter, deeply rooted in the community, and profoundly impactful.
Showing support and making a difference
Every week, Finchley Foodbank supports around 600 people from 220 households. These are families, single parents, working individuals, and vulnerable people, all navigating the challenges of a cost-of-living crisis that continues to affect so many.
The food bank is powered by a remarkable team of over 200 volunteers, many of whom give their time twice a month or more. They manage logistics, welcome service users, and ensure that no one in the community is left behind.
As one volunteer put it: “I can’t fix the system that’s letting people down, but I can do this.”
Without its own permanent premises and operating out of a local church, the food bank uses two small storage rooms and a purpose-bought container to hold supplies, which are moved in and out of the church hall each week, with care and coordination. It’s a system that speaks volumes about the dedication and resilience of the volunteer team.
Giving back to the local community through the power of social value
This is the kind of work that often goes unseen but is undeniably the backbone of a community. I’m delighted to share that Wates Family Enterprise Trust has recently awarded a £10,000 grant to the food bank, which will go toward covering the cost of renting the church hall. It’s a meaningful contribution that helps ensure the food bank can continue to operate in a space that’s central, accessible, and familiar to those who rely on it.
But the need doesn’t end here. Food banks across the country, including Finchley Foodbank, rely on the generosity of individuals and organisations to keep going. Whether it’s a large donation, regular monthly gifting, or simply picking up a few extra items during your weekly shop, every act of giving makes a difference.
Because while grants like this one make a real difference, it’s the ongoing, everyday acts of kindness, the tins dropped into collection boxes, the hours volunteered, the conversations had, that sustain these services and the people they support. Community care is a collective effort, and there’s a role for all of us to play.
I just want to say a big thank you to the Wates team and our supply chain, with a special shout out to Clare Meehan of O’Neill & Brennan for her continued support in driving and encouraging donations on site. Your efforts are helping make a real and lasting impact.
If you’re reading this, I encourage you to support Finchley Foodbank or your own local food bank in whatever way you can. Donate what you can, when you can. Give little and often. Share their posts. Volunteer your time. And most importantly, keep looking out for others in your community.
Together, we can continue to recognise and support the people and places that make a difference and help communities thrive.
To see more details on how to best support Finchley Foodbank, visit their website here: https://www.finchleyfoodbank.org.uk/
