Foodbank donation shows social value
A local company contracted by Dudley Council has worked with the authority and its own staff to collect contributions for the Black Country Foodbank.
Jewson Partnership Solutions (JPS) who work with the council’s housing maintenance team suggested the collection as part of their commitment to the authority’s social value policy.
As part of the policy, potential contracts are evaluated against the social, economic and environmental impact they have. It looks at what added value businesses can offer the community when tendering for goods and services.
JPS, a locally based business thought they could make the most of their central location on Pedmore Road by setting up a food bank donation point for their employees and visitors. Alongside a donation point at the council’s own Leys Depot the team managed to collected hundreds and hundreds of items for the Black Country Foodbank.
Councillor Shaun Keasey, cabinet member for commercialism and human resources, said:
This is a great example of partnership working and shows how effective the social value policy can be in terms of directly benefiting local people.
We are always looking for ways to work with our partners to help give back the community and I’m grateful to JPS for leading on this project.
Stephanie Bailey from Jewson Partnership Solutions said:
Due to the rising cost of living, coupled with the after-effects of the pandemic, food poverty is currently hitting families within our borough. This means that more and more families are turning to food banks as a way of helping them ensure that their households can get by.
I’m so glad we were able to work with Dudley Council and Black Country Foodbank to make this happen. Thanks to the generosity of all involved, hopefully we will be able to help those local families in need.
The collected items are now with the Black Country Foodbank in Albion Street, Brierley Hill.