Bournemouth Foodbank Partnership Comes to College

Bournemouth Foodbank recently teamed up with Bournemouth and Poole College in a coworking arrangement and brought some of their volunteers with interactive stands on Thursday, 24th October. They dropped off food donations for students at the college, in a designated area in the reception. 

Students were invited to review two food baskets and repack them, with the speediest ten winners receiving a goody bag of treats. The top prize winner would win the crate itself. They were also invited to guess the weight of another crate and do a ‘fishy-catching’ exercise.

Student, Verity, studying Childcare said: “The task was hard but quite a bit easier when you understood you needed to put everything in and there were two of everything. The issue of foodbanks is important.”

Rio Argent and Lauren Hennessy, County Engagement Coordinators attended the college for Bournemouth Foodbank. Rio said: “It was a good day and we had some good chats with students. It’s important to open the dialogue with students and let them know there is help available. We ask students if they know anyone who has used a foodbank – so they know that there is no stigma. We had some good and interesting conversations today and hope to continue with the supportive collaboration with the college in the future.”

Bournemouth Foodbank also works with the Trussell organisation based in Salisbury and has had over 100 participants for a hot meal and social initiative in their community café The Garden Rooms Café in Boscombe.

With over 11 per cent of the population using Foodbanks and the cost-of-living crisis nationally, having a Bournemouth Foodbank presence onsite is important.