​A leading decorating and DIY specialist is laying the foundations for Hackney Foodbank’s fresh start in a new warehouse.  

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Leyland’s Hackney store on Balls Pond Road has donated hundreds of pounds worth of materials to their local food bank, including masonry paint and rollers, brooms, garden shears and shovels. 

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The charity recently re-located its main warehouse and offices from Hoxton to the Wally Foster Community Centre in Homerton, offering more space and enabling it to cope with growing local demand. 

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Sally Newsom, Corporate Partnerships Manager at Hackney Foodbank, said: "We are extremely grateful to Leyland and its Hackney team for this generous donation of materials. 

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“Our new warehouse is a fantastic space – it’s the place people come to donate food and it’s where all our emergency food parcels are packed – but it laid empty for some time and really needs some TLC, particularly as it’s in a very visible location. 

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“The team at Leyland was quick to support. They understood the issues we face and the worsening problem of poverty in the area. These materials will be a huge help and we can’t wait to carry out the work.” 

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Hackney Foodbank has teamed up with the Probation Service and some of the work will be carried out by people as part of the Community Payback scheme. 

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The charity has food distribution centres in Stoke Newington, Hackney, Dalston, Haggerston, Upper Clapton and Hoxton. As well as providing debt and mental health advice, they provide emergency food for an average of 630 people per week, a 42% increase in demand in the past year.

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Naivasha Elworthy, Marketing Manager at Leyland, said: “We are proud to support Hackney Foodbank and the invaluable work it is doing in supporting people in the area. 

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“We all dream of a country where poverty is eliminated but, until then, it is important there are charities like this to help plug the gap. 

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