Ebury Food Surplus Have a New Home

A couple of weeks ago we found out that Westminster Council have served notice to Ebury Food Surplus from their home in Donnimore House. EFS are a free, charitable food service that is a lifeline to many people. Each week they help 85 households by supplying them with free food. We immediately wrote to our local councillors to try to find out why they have been given notice. Jacqui Wilkinson, got straight onto it and as a result EFS have a new home, albeit temporary, for the next 6 months. David Thomson, Project Direct, Ebury Regeneration had a meeting with Mike Smith (leader of EFS) and gave some key commitments to Mike in a letter dated 4th November.

“Firstly can I reassure you that the Ebury Regeneration Project Team is committed to the continuing support of the Foodbank. There is no intention to request that the Foodbank vacates the Lodge until a reasonable alternative premises is identified”. “We will provide assistance throughout this process, including removals, to enable you to move the Foodbank to its new home”.

Since then, David has made further agreements with Mike.

"I can confirm that in the next two weeks Mike has agreed that the Foodbank moves to a new six month temporary position on site of the former Wainwright House on the Ebury estate. The Ebury Team will be providing a portacabin, power, welfare facilities, relocating the Foodbanks large storage container and providing a new additional container for the Foodbanks fridge’s and freezers. During the six months we will be fully supporting the Foodbank in exploring new permanent locations."

PGRA will follow this progress and will report back in 6 months when Ebury Food Services will have a new, hopefully more permanent, home.