A FOOD bank that could have been forced to close over Christmas because it was starved of space has found a new home.

The Oxfordshire West Food Bank was offered space at Cottsway Housing Association’s offices in Witney after the Oxford Mail reported its appeal for new premises.

Founder Joanne Cypher was worried it would have to shut this winter because of a lack of room and access, plus essentials such as heating, at its current base in a Hailey Road garage.

The 40-year-old said: “It’s a better facility with plenty of space, and it’s warm and dry.

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“It’s nearer the centre of town, which is better for us and will benefit the people who need it because it’s easier to get to.

“Everything will be out on the shelves so we will be able to see what we have and do proper checks.

“The housing association is an important link because about 80 to 90 per cent of our recipients are Cottsway tenants.”

Cottsway’s operations director Sue Lakin said: “We are very much a community-based organisation and are keen to do what we can to help such an important lifeline for people who use the food bank - those who are in genuine need.”

More than 800 people have been provided with food parcels since the food bank opened two years ago.

It began life at Ducklington Baptist Chapel, but had to move when that church closed.

It then moved to the Elim Christian Fellowship, in West End, using a corner of the building, but increased demand meant it was taking up too much space and had to move out.

The group was then offered space in a garage at 98 Hailey Road, owned by the nearby BP Cannon Pool Service Station, while it hunted for a larger, permanent home.

Volunteers had to bring in bottled water and use the petrol station’s toilet, but this was not available for food bank users.

The 15-strong team issued an appeal for new premises and was contacted by Cottsway staff, who read the appeal in the Oxford Mail’s sister paper, the Witney Gazette.

They moved into the housing association’s offices in Avenue Two, off Station Lane, yesterday with new racking installed for storage.

The group has been promised the new premises for up to six months but Cottsway will help it find a permanent space.

Cottsway has also asked its contractors and suppliers to make donations towards costs and equipment, with MIS Active Management Systems Limited giving £1,000.

A cross-party team of six councillors worked with the food bank and Cottsway.

West Oxfordshire District Council Labour leader Duncan Enright said: “This is fantastic news and it just shows what we can do when we all pull together.”


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