Northampton offices donates space to Hope Centre to fight poverty during pandemic

A Northampton office space has gifted a homelessness charity space to help combat the coronavirus food crisis.

Northampton Hope Centre has been responding to the food crisis caused by the pandemic from its unit within BizSpace’s business centre in Northampton. As demand has increased, putting volunteers’ health at risk, BizSpace has gifted the charity an additional unit to support its valuable work combatting the food crisis in Northampton.

Northampton Hope Centre, a charity dedicated to helping tackle poverty and homelessness in the Northampton area, has been operating its food club from BizSpace Northampton for two years. The club, a pop-up shop which sold significantly discounted food to those who needed it in the community, has now been turned into a distribution centre for food donations and deliveries to those most vulnerable during the pandemic.

The Hope Centre was packing and delivering 140 food parcels per week from its unit at BizSpace, but, having reached maximum capacity and with the need to following social distancing guidelines, it was in danger of closing down or having to severely reduce its work to avoid putting volunteers’ health at risk. To combat this, BizSpace gifted another unit to the charity, to ensure that food can be donated and distributed safely to those in need. With the extra space, the charity has been able to work with other food banks in the Northampton area, making BizSpace Northampton the central food hub.

The centre’s location means that donations can be made safely, and logistically the operation of deliveries and donations is more efficient.

The charity delivers food to individuals and families of all age ranges, who are on benefits, living in poverty or facing adversity due to the pandemic. Food parcels go to those who are either self-referred, referred through the council or referred through one of its partnered charities, including domestic abuse charities.

Brian Andrews, Managing Director South for BizSpace, said: “In times like these we must remember the importance of community. What Northampton Hope Centre is doing is inspiring, remarkable and particularly valuable at a time when more people than normal are facing adversity. We were delighted to be in a position where we could help Northampton Hope Centre to continue their important work which is having a strong positive impact on the local community.”