Long Eaton Baptist Church has received a £20,000 grant from the Severn Trent Community Fund for improvements to the building which will make it the new home of the Long Eaton foodbank. 

The church, on Station Street in Long Eaton, offered its buildings as a new base for the foodbank, which is unable to remain in its current location.  The church will use the funds to improve the existing facilities and increase accessibility, with a view to it becoming a community hub.

The foodbank has been a key part of the Long Eaton community for over a decade, supporting people in need and providing food for around 3,000 people last year alone. It also supports other local charities, including a breakfast club, luncheon club, and an affordable food scheme aimed at reducing peoples’ reliance on foodbanks and making them more self-sufficient. 

Rev Mike Arnold, Long Eaton Baptist Church, said: “Many people who use the foodbank find themselves in crisis, are anxious or feel alone, so it offers a safety net where people can feel welcomed and accepted.  

“This grant will enable us to make some key improvements to our building, both improving the safety of those who already use it by relocating the main entrance from a busy road and providing better disabled access.”

The church is aiming to become a community hub, bringing together some of the most widely used services from across Long Eaton into a single place, which will make accessing services much easier. 

Rev Arnold, continued: “Once the work is complete and foodbank has relocated, we intend to make our building a community hub creating a one stop shop, including a clothes exchange through Share the Love, debt counselling from Citizens Advice, a job club, white and household goods provision through The Arches Project, and sign posting services from Hope Long Eaton.”

Sue Heyes, Severn Trent Community Fund Officer, said: “Foodbanks are a crucial lifeline for communities and we are genuinely so pleased that our selection board chose this project to receive funding. The improvements to the church building and its future expansion into a hub for all of these brilliant support services will be a great benefit to people in Long Eaton and the surrounding area.  

“We are always looking for more local projects in the regions in which we work which would benefit from grant funding and would encourage anyone who may be applicable to get in touch.” 

For more information on the Severn Trent Community Fund and to find out how to make an application visit stwater.co.uk and search for Community Fund. 

For further media information: 02477 715 640 or email: media@severntrent.co.uk

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