New hub is launched to fight 'startling' poverty

CENTRE AIMS TO PROVIDE SEVEN MILLION MEALS TO AROUND 30,000 PEOPLE

- GURDIP THANDI

The Sir Peter Rigby Coronation Food Hub has been launched in Birmingham and, inset, Sir Peter

A MAJOR new hub aimed at tackling 'startling' issues around poverty, food waste and unemployment in the West Midlands has been launched.

The Sir Peter Rigby Coronation Food Hub in Gravelly Park, Birmingham, aims to serve seven million meals, which would otherwise have gone to waste, to 30,000 people living in poverty across the region.

Around 500 unemployed young people annually will also be given the chance to learn skills in warehousing, logistics, forklift driving and catering and hospitality through employability programmes run at the hub.

Businessman and philanthropist Sir Peter Rigby donated £2m through his charitable trust in order for the new hub which opened on Monday.

It will be operated by food distribution charity Fareshare West Midlands, who said the bigger warehouse will enable them to double their output of support.

Fareshare takes quality, surplus food from across the industry, which would otherwise be thrown away, and then distributes it to ensure it reaches those most in need.