The Voice in your Community
JCB dishes up support for homeless as food aid project expands
JCB has stepped up its food aid programme to cater for homeless people in North Staffordshire.
Since the launch of the JCB ‘Food for our Communities’ programme – the idea of Lady Bamford, wife of JCB Chairman Lord Bamford – the company has provided more than 3,600 cottage pies for disadvantaged people across the area.
Now JCB is expanding the initiative by adding sandwiches to the menu - making 500 every week for distribution across Stoke-on-Trent.
One of the first recipients of the sandwiches is the Brighter Futures organisation, which has co-ordinated the provision of accommodation for homeless people in hotels and hostels to enable them to safely self-isolate during the Coronavirus crisis.
The organisation is including the sandwiches in daily food parcels being distributed to homeless people in Burslem and Hanley and, according to company director Maureen Eastgate, the support is “really appreciated.”
She said: “It means on a daily basis that the people who need food, are getting good quality food from a very reliable source. Without the help of JCB and others, we would be struggling, given the extra demand brought about by this crisis. What the company is doing is very much appreciated by everyone who needs the food.”
The sandwiches are being lovingly prepared on behalf of JCB by partners Sue Hodgkinson and Brian Stephenson, of Oakamoor, near Cheadle, whose company Tier Solutions are the contract caterers at JCB’s Global Learning facility next to the World HQ at Rocester.
Sue said: “As a contractor we very much see ourselves are part of the JCB family and as such had no hesitation offering our services to such a great project inspired by Lady Bamford.”
Each week the pair are getting through 1,500 slices of bread, 11 kilos of butter, 12 kilos of ham and cheese and 25 kilos of tomatoes.
It’s all part of an initiative that started more than two weeks ago with the company’s catering staff in the UK and India preparing more than 37,500 meals a week for distribution around towns and villages located close to its plants.
JCB’s kitchens in Staffordshire are being supported with the provision of food from organic farms at Daylesford in Gloucestershire. So far, Daylesford – founded by Lady Bamford - has supplied more than half a tonne of organic beef mince to the project, with staff working seven days a week to support the food aid initiative.
In the UK, JCB is also working with the The Hubb Foundation in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, to distribute food to children and families, as well as Stoke-on-Trent City Council, which is distributing JCB meals to vulnerable adults and children across the city.
Above: Sue Hodgkinson and Brian Stephenson pictured with sandwiches made for JCB's 'Food for our Communities' initiative
Town and village served up support by JCB in troubled times
JCB is serving up support for families in Uttoxeter and Rocester by extending its ‘Food for our Communities’ initiative to include the town and village.
The company has linked up with Uttoxeter’s Covid-19 Support Group by supplying them with 200 sandwich packs every week for inclusion in food parcels delivered to vulnerable people in the area.
JCB is also supplying the St. Michael’s Church Support Group in Rocester with 100 meals a week as it works with villagers who are elderly and unable to leave their property, as well as families who are in desperate need.
Since the launch of the ‘Food for our Communities’ programme – the idea of Lady Bamford, wife of JCB Chairman Lord Bamford – JCB has provided thousands of meals – including cottage pies, macaroni cheese and bolognese - for disadvantaged people across the area. The scheme has been expanded to include the supply of sandwiches, including 500 every week for distribution across Stoke-on-Trent, including the homeless.
Phil Irons, Founder of the Uttoxeter Covid-19 Support Group, said: “The fact that a global company like JCB is helping at the very grassroots of the community is having an enormous impact. The support is being very well-received by people across the area.”
The Rev. Liz Jones, Vicar of Rocester, said: “It is wonderful the way JCB is reaching out to the village because the company is a big part of the fabric of our community. It’s another example of people in the village pulling together to help one another.”
The Uttoxeter Covid-19 Support Group was set up to connect wanting to volunteer with families and individuals needing help. Since its formation, it has been working closely with the Helping Hands Food Bank and Uttoxeter Town Football Club, who are now helping distribute the JCB sandwiches. The football club includes them in food parcels it delivers to vulnerable and self-isolating people as part of a daily collection and delivery of prescriptions.
JCB’s ‘Food for our Communities’ initiative started more than three weeks ago with the company’s catering staff in the UK and India preparing more than 37,500 meals a week for distribution around towns and villages located close to its plants.
JCB’s kitchens in Staffordshire are being supported with the provision of food from organic farms at Daylesford in Gloucestershire. So far, Daylesford – founded by Lady Bamford - has supplied more than half a tonne of organic beef mince to the project, with staff working seven days a week to support the food aid initiative.
In the UK, JCB is also working with the The Hubb Foundation in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, to distribute food to children and families, as well as Stoke-on-Trent City Council, which is distributing JCB meals to vulnerable adults and children across the city.
Pictured left to right are Uttoxeter Town Football Club Development Officer John Landells, Fiona Taylor, of Renew Church, Uttoxeter, and Phil Irons, Founder of Uttoxeter Covid 19 Community Support Group.
Pictured left to right are Uttoxeter Town Football Club Development Officer John Landells, Phil Irons, Founder of Uttoxeter Covid 19 Community Support Group and Fiona Taylor, of Renew Church, Uttoxeter.