A West London foodbank needs over £19,000 to fix up a new warehouse for the vast amounts of items it hands out to those in need, having been told to vacate its current premises by the end of June.
Hammersmith and Fulham Foodbank, which has been based at the West London College by Barons Court station for four years, is to relocate to the former Flora Gardens Primary School in Hammersmith.
The former school has reportedly sat empty for a year, with a significant amount of cleaning up plus other works needed to make it suitable for the foodbank.
Phil Storey, Chief Executive at Hammersmith and Fulham Foodbank, said the response so far has made the charity feel like “an important part of the community”, and that people “really want to see us succeed and to help us”.
Hammersmith and Fulham Foodbank, while a member of the Trussell Trust, is an independent charity distributing tonnes of food and other necessities to people in crisis every month. Last year it provided 28,032 emergency food parcels to individuals and families in the borough.
Established in 2010, it has a staff team of 10 people though is reliant on its extensive network of volunteers.
As well as operating its warehouse, it runs eight weekly sessions at four sites across Hammersmith and Fulham and provides practical support and referrals to more than 100 local partners, covering issues such as debt and housing.
According to the charity’s fundraiser: “Our warehouse is the heart of our operations; it’s where our community donations and purchased food to fill the gaps that donations don’t meet is safely stored, sorted, and prepared for delivery to our foodbank sessions. Securing and upgrading a new warehouse means one thing: we can keep delivering food to those who need it most, without interruption.”
Mr Storey told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the college had been “incredible hosts” and provided the space free of charge. Nonetheless, when it informed the foodbank it would have to vacate, it came as a “shock”.
He said the charity immediately reached out to all of its partners and the educational department at the council came up with the former school space.
Mr Storey said Flora Gardens, which is by Ravenscourt Park and so not far from the foodbank’s current base, has been empty for a year.
Credit: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon.
Pupils were temporarily relocated with the main part of the school suffering from “significant condition and suitability issues”, according to a council report. They have moved to nearby Lena Gardens in the meantime, which is in a better condition.
It is understood the council is reviewing its options regarding the redevelopment of the school and no decisions have been made yet.
Until then, Hammersmith and Fulham Foodbank has been told it can shift its warehouse to the site.
“We need to make it into something that can function quickly as our warehouse so we don’t have to close any of our foodbank sessions,” Mr Storey said. “And to do that, the site needs some development, it needs some work, we need to clear it, clean it, and we need some equipment to make it functional.”
Those works required include cleaning up the debris around the school, plus some structural amendments, such as widening the doors to the main hall.
Mr Storey said the construction company Wates has offered some services and provided £500 worth of paint, though the fundraiser is essential to bring the space up to scratch.
The total ask is for £19,218. The fundraiser is hosted on Hammersmith and Fulham Hive, a section of the platform SpaceHive, a programme which means the council will also make a contribution from its Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) fund.
On the move, Mr Storey said: “As a charity we were really settled and it did come as a shock, and we’ve been absolutely moved by how many of our supporters in the borough, how many of our donors have supported us on SpaceHive already, and the offers of practical help have been incredible.
“It’s really made us feel like we’re an important part of the community and an important part of the structure, and that people really want to see us succeed and to help us.”
Credit: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon
He added that all of the messages of thanks from the charity to backers and supporters also come from those using its services.
“Their gratitude and appreciation should not be underestimated in this. Because without this entire operation being functional, a family doesn’t get fed tonight.”
To contribute to the foodbank’s fundraiser visit its page on SpaceHive.
Hammersmith and Fulham Foodbank has previously been recognised by Hammersmith and Fulham Council.
Its founder Daphine Aikens was awarded the Freedom of the Borough in 2022, with Council Leader Stephan Cowan saying the local authority was “grateful…for everything she has done”.
