PRESS RELEASE
(For Immediate release: 2 February 2021)
FOODBANK HAILED A LIFE-LINE FOR BURNTWOOD COMMUNITY
A foodbank at Chase Terrace Academy has been hailed a great success and a vital life-line to the local community. The Burntwood school launched the initiative in November in an effort to support its families and community.
Every week, staff have been distributing food parcels to local families in need. An initial appeal for food donations and essential toiletries was made via letters to parents and pleas via the school’s Twitter account and Facebook page.
(left to right) Chase Terrace Academy Foodbank Team, Alisha Vivian, Karen Tooth, Vikki Wilson (PE staff), Laura Wilson (Assistant Headteacher).
Head of School, Nicola Mason said, “with the new lockdown in place we have become increasingly concerned about the impact of Covid-19 on our community and it feels essential at this crucial time to support each other. We have been overwhelmed by the response received from our families and our staff as well as from local supermarkets, businesses and community organisations. Their donations have been extremely generous and heart-warming.”
The CTA foodbank is being led by three of the school’s female PE staff, supported by Assistant Headteacher, Laura Wilson. The team have been making weekly donations to families who have asked for support. The school held a foodbank morning on the 21st December, attended by 30 families and to date over 250 essential food parcels have been distributed. A second foodbank morning is being held on 12th February at the school, 10.30am – 12.30pm and it is hoped that this will help families through the February half-term break.
Ms Wilson added, “we would like to thank the local community for their continued donations. Our supplies were depleted after our foodbank morning and we were wondering how on earth we could keep this initiative running. We are all in this together and the support we have received has been truly exceptional”.
The school would like to continue the foodbank through to the end of the lockdown period and has launched a new appeal for donations. Basic items needed include UHT milk, squash, pasta sauces, tinned fruit and vegetables, tinned, meat/fish/protein, wraps or long-life bread, crisps/biscuits, fresh fruit and vegetables (Thursdays only), shampoo, toilet rolls and household cleaning products.
Families who need a little extra help at this time and would like to receive a food parcel should contact the school on telephone 01543 682286 or email: office@chaseterraceacademy.co.uk. All requests for support will be kept confidential. Donations can be dropped off at the school reception 8.30am – 3.30pm weekdays.
(left to right) PE staff from Chase Terrace Academy, Alisha Vivian and Vikki Wilson.
For further information contact: Ms N Mason – Head of School – Tel: 01543 682286 – Email: n.mason@chaseterraceacademy.co.uk.
School website: www.chaseterraceacademy.co.uk
Chase Terrace Academy is a mixed secondary school and sixth form serving the community of Burntwood and the surrounding area. Part of the Stephen Sutton Multi Academy Trust, it is a forward-thinking school with the highest aspirations for all of its students.
