SLOUGH Foodbank has got a cash boost from the Labour group to carry on its essential work during the coronavirus pandemic.

Councillors from the group have donated £1,000 from a portion of their allowances from the lockdown period to the charity to help residents living in food poverty or those who were hit the hardest by the Covid-19 restrictions imposed by government.

The busy independent charity has seen a drop in food and toiletries donations due movement and shopping restrictions on what people can buy because of the coronavirus.

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The foodbank, which opened in 2010 and is supported by churches and community groups, has seen a 35 per cent loss of their volunteers due to shielding, social distancing and some were considered at risk from the virus.

Councillor Christine Hulme, chair of the Labour group, said: “Slough Foodbank do a wonderful job and all in Slough Labour want to thank volunteers locally who have done so much to help our residents in need, so I am delighted to make this donation of behalf of the Labour Group of Councillors.

“Poverty and inequality are not inevitable and the scale of inequality in this country has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s a scandal that in the fifth richest country in the world people, including our residents, are forced to rely on foodbanks to get by.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has increased demand on foodbanks up and down the country and Slough is no different with our foodbank seeing its highest levels of demand over the course of its 10 year history, and Slough Labour urge all who can to donate to our foodbank to ensure no-one gets left behind.”

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Slough Foodbank have created a crowdfunder page where they have, so far, collected over £14,000.

If you would like to donate, the page can be found here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/sloughfoodbank