Recycling firm Warrens Group helping children stride ahead with charity support

A waste recycling and sustainability firm teamed up with a North East baker’s charitable trust to raise awareness of food poverty and children’s health.

Members of Warrens Group’s Newton Aycliffe team joined more than 80 walkers on a 19-mile trek along Hadrian’s Wall to raise cash for the Greggs’ Breakfast Club Programme.

The County Durham family business, which is headed by brothers and directors Adam and Antony Warren, has worked with Greggs for more than 14 years, which has led to the firm partnering with The Greggs Foundation.

Since their relationship began, the company, which helps businesses reduce food waste sent to landfill and incineration by turning it into ‘good’ energy for local communities, has worked on areas such as the Greggs Foundation’s Breakfast Club and Hardship Fund Programme.

Alongside sponsorship, Warrens supports St Andrew’s Primary School, in Bishop Auckland, and Darlington’s Marchbank Free School to forge relationships with staff and help families fund new school uniforms and footwear.

Adam said: “Collecting food waste on a daily basis, we see the volume of food that is wasted and would otherwise go to landfill or incineration and it’s our goal to work towards reducing that volume.

“We have all read stories in the media about children going to school hungry because families can’t afford to feed them and it’s an issue that’s really close to our hearts, so it’s great that through the Greggs Breakfast Clubs we can do our bit to support those in need.

“Our work with the Greggs Foundation is an extension of what we do every day as a business.

“We are committed to giving back to the community and the breakfast clubs are a fantastic way to ensure children get the nutrition they need to aid their concentration and fuel their imaginations for the day ahead.”

Lynne Hindmarch, breakfast club manager at Greggs Foundation, said: “We are delighted to partner with Warrens to support the children at St Andrews and Marchbank.

“The Greggs Foundation has supported breakfast clubs for 20 years as we believe every child deserves the best start to their day and by working collaboratively with business partners such as Warrens, we are able to support more pupils at breakfast time.

“In addition, Warrens support the schools with grants for school uniforms enriching the partnership experience.”

Alongside its work with The Greggs Foundation, Warrens also raised around £2000 by taking part in a nine-mile walk along the Cleveland Way to raise money for mental health charity, the Samaritans.

Three generations of the Warren family took part in the walk, with Adam being joined by his daughter Isabel, aged 11, and father John.