Following this year’s Staff Survey, we once again turned staff engagement into tangible support for local communities. For every completed survey response, the College pledged to donate one food item to a local foodbank.
This year, the College to donate over 450 items to two local foodbanks, split equally between Abingdon Foodbank and Witney & West Oxfordshire Foodbank. The donations provide vital support to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity across Oxfordshire.
Kirsten Get, Director of People Services at Abingdon & Witney College, said:
“At Abingdon & Witney College, we understand the impact that our work and our presence has on the people who live nearby and the families whose young people attend our centres of learning. Being able to give something extra, to provide a helping hand to people who will genuinely benefit, is a wonderful activity I am really proud to be a part of.
We are looking forward to continuing our support in future years and will remain in contact with both organisations in the coming months as they continue their essential good work in supporting people and families through some really challenging times.”
Abingdon Foodbank supports people across Abingdon and the surrounding villages who are struggling to feed themselves and their families. Abingdon Foodbank now responds to more than 200 requests for help each month. The service is funded entirely through voluntary donations and supported by a dedicated team of volunteers and local community organisations.
Foodbank Manager Philip Bingham shared his thanks for the College’s support, saying:
“We are so grateful for the donations of food we receive from Abingdon and Witney College. Abingdon Foodbank relies entirely on donations so that we can support people who are struggling to feed themselves: donated food comes in and goes almost straight out again because of the need. By raising food donations for the Foodbank, you are raising awareness in your community, which is very valuable.”
Last year, Witney & West Oxfordshire Foodbank supported 4,861 people. Demand continues to rise, particularly at the start of the school year when families feel extra financial pressure. The donation weighed an impressive 77.4kg, providing essential food and supplies to people experiencing financial hardship.
Maria Grindley, Chair of Board of Trustees at Witney & West Oxfordshire Foodbank said:
“We are so grateful for the continued support from staff and students at Abingdon and Witney College. Their donations make a huge difference to us. Sadly, Foodbank support is needed as much as ever and we are reliant on donations of food and money to be able to help our clients so every item donated matters. We are currently helping just under 5,000 people across Witney and West Oxfordshire per year and included in that number are around 1,800 children. There is no typical Foodbank client and in the current economic climate many individuals and families are struggling so we are proud of the great relationship we have with the college and appreciate all that they do to support us."
We’re incredibly proud that our staff survey has once again provided an opportunity to support local communities. Thank you to everyone who completed the survey and helped make this initiative possible, and to the teams and volunteers at Abingdon Foodbank and Witney & West Oxfordshire Foodbank for their ongoing work supporting people in our communities.
