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Local food bank founders win Prime Minister’s award

Highams Park Food Aid founders Tracey and Peter Rodgers have been awarded the Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award. Each week day, the award recognises […]By Waltham Forest Echo

Highams Park Food Aid, or The Hub in Chingford.
Highams Park Food Aid, or The Hub in Chingford.

Highams Park Food Aid founders Tracey and Peter Rodgers have been awarded the Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award.

Each week day, the award recognises an outstanding volunteer somewhere in the UK, for their invaluable contribution to their community.

The Hub – as it is also known – came into being in April 2020, as a direct response to the pandemic.

Tracey, a community manager at Leyton Sixth Form College and Peter, who works at All Saints Church, were already embedded in Waltham Forest’s community when they began food parcel deliveries to people who were shielding at home.

Their project evolved over the course of eleven months to become a fully-fledged food bank, aiding vulnerable Waltham Forest residents, as well as people experiencing financial hardship.

Over 27,500 food parcels have been provided since its inception, and over 250 families have benefitted – thanks to Tracey, Peter and more than 100 volunteers.

Of their win, the pair said: “We are humbled and delighted to accept these awards on behalf of our volunteers.

“The Hub started with just us delivering to five families after church on Easter Sunday. We could not have achieved what we have without our incredibly skilled volunteers and the amazing support from our local community, which has been so generous.

“The Hub has always been a project by the community for the community and long may it continue to be so.”

Currently, the food bank service operates twice a week from All Saints Church in Highams Park, Chingford.

Future plans include providing a professional financial advice service, mental health support and drop-in café (when safe to do so) to benefit the local community.

Find @HighamsHub on Instagram


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