North East college group supports FE festive foodbank initiative

Education Partnership North East is joining FE colleges across the country to support those most in need this Christmas.

The college group, which includes Hartlepool Sixth Form, Northumberland College and Sunderland College, is working with UK colleges to collect 30,000 items for local foodbanks as part of the #FEFestiveFoodbankFriday campaign.

In addition, a Just Giving page has been launched with the aim of reaching a £12,000 fundraising target.

Funds raised will be divided up between the colleges involved and distributed to local foodbanks.

Collection bins for food and other non-food donations will be placed across Education Partnership North East’s campuses, encouraging staff and students to donate food items where they can.

The colleges will also be publishing regular lists of the most needed items from the local foodbanks, to make sure donations are as helpful as possible.

Ruth Magnus, Director of Student Services, said: “Our colleges are at the very heart of their communities and we are proud to pledge our support to the FE Festive Foodbank Friday.

“No one should be going hungry, but our foodbanks are reporting huge increases in demand due to the ongoing pandemic with an estimated 500,000 people in the UK now reliant on food parcels.

“We are calling on our students, staff and the wider community to come together and help those who need it most in the run up to Christmas.”