Hockley Hustle: NG7 Food Bank

Bring these items to Hockley Hustle to support NG7 Food Bank

NG7 Food Bank is a community project within the Nottingham area helping out those who are in immediate need. The aim of this charity is to provide food for those in poverty locally.

Nottingham is well known for its communal vibe, and it's this vibrancy which has seen so many fed through the food bank since it began over two years ago. The generous donations of the people within Nottingham, along with an abundance of enthusiastic volunteers, has seen the food bank feed over 5,000 people since it was first formed back in 2012. NG7 Food Bank spokesperson Rob Graham emphasises the importance of the local community in making the charity such a success.

"We are run entirely by volunteers who have experienced, or have a deep working knowledge of, deprivation and poverty. This is further supported by a strong network of voluntary agencies and autonomous groups who provide support for the food bank users to address, challenge or overcome their situations. We have a community focused vision of increasing compassion empowerment and resilient for those most vulnerable in the city."

NG7 Food Bank

Hockley Hustle now wants to support the NG7 Food Bank and, with your help, are aiming to collect 500kg of food. There will be food dispensers set up at the ticket collection point asking you to help by bringing an item of food on the day. If everyone who attends Hockley Hustle brings just one tin of food we will smash that 500kg target. Let’s face it; all of us could spare a tin of soup or a bag of rice for people in our local community.

The charity initially opened on a two week trial basis back in July 2012. However, the continued success saw the charity expand further and it recently celebrated its second birthday back in July. I’m sure they'll agree that they've been shocked by the sustained generosity of the Nottingham community, however it is imperative that this big-hearted nature continues to grow in a society where the expenditure to live continues to rise. Welfare reform in the past few years has seen poverty increase extensively, with charities such as NG7 Food Bank aiming to provide relief for those living on the breadline.

Hockley Hustle

So, if you could add that extra tin of baked beans to your shopping list, or even just rustle around your cupboard for that pack of curry super noodles you were saving for your next hangover, you could instantly help feed a local person within the community who needs it more.

It is these contributions from us Nottingham folk which keep the charity running and allow them to carry on feeding people who need it. Any donations on the day will be distributed within the Nottingham area. The food bank keeps it local when distributing the donated food and has embedded a local referral system whereby it supports numerous local organisations. These include; St Ann’s Advice Centre, City Centre CAB, Sure Start at Mary Potter Centre, Signpost to Polish Success, Nottingham Refugee Forum, Nottingham Refugee Futures, The Welcome Project, Womens Aid and AgeUK.

The food bank has specific items which it requires for its project. Please only bring the items on the following list:

• Tinned tomatoes
• Tinned chickpeas/ kidney beans/ butter beans,
• Tinned soup
• Tinned meat and fish
• Rice (preferably 1 or 2kg bags)
• Tinned fruit
• Vegetable oil*
• Packet noodles*
• Biscuits.

* Please wrap or double wrap these items in a carrier bag so they don't get squashed.

The Hockley Hustle is a celebration of culture, music and community spirit within the Nottingham area. That community spirit is portrayed clearly with the work carried out by charities such as NG7 Food Bank. So let’s all have a good old dance and sing a long, have a few drinks with friends but let’s also make a difference to people who struggle to survive in today’s society. Look out for the dispensers over the Hockley Hustle weekend, chuck in your food and let’s help change lives.

NG7 Food Bank on Facebook
Hockley Hustle website