A significant new facility dedicated to combating severe poverty, food waste, and youth unemployment in the West Midlands has officially opened its doors.
A Hub for Nourishment and Opportunity
The Sir Peter Rigby Coronation Food Hub, based in Gravelly Park, Birmingham, launched on Monday, December 15. Its primary mission is to redistribute an estimated seven million meals to approximately 30,000 individuals living in poverty throughout the region. This food, which would otherwise have been discarded, is rescued and directed to those most in need.
Beyond addressing food insecurity, the hub has a crucial employment focus. It will run employability programmes designed to support around 500 unemployed young people each year. Participants will have the chance to gain practical skills in areas such as warehousing, logistics, forklift truck driving, and catering and hospitality.
Philanthropy Powering a Larger Operation
The launch was made possible by a £2 million donation from businessman and philanthropist Sir Peter Rigby, gifted through his charitable trust. The hub will be operated by the food distribution charity FareShare West Midlands.
Simone Connolly, FareShare Midlands CEO, explained the scale-up: "We've moved from a site very close to here but we've doubled our floorspace, enabling us to double our capacity and double our output." She emphasised the dual ambition of redistributing food for millions of meals while tackling youth unemployment, which is notably high in Birmingham.
Leaders Confront a 'Startling' Reality
At the launch, Sir Peter Rigby highlighted the dire need, stating, "Food deprivation is a massive thing in the West Midlands. One in two children does not have sufficient food to eat, which is a startling statistic." He also pointed to the broader issue of waste, noting that 25% of food goes uneaten.
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, who attended the event, echoed the urgency. "In a large part of this region, half the children grow up in poverty," he said. He welcomed recent government changes to benefits but stressed that "projects like this will help ensure families across this region get access to the food they need."
Ms. Connolly acknowledged the persistent challenges, stating, "I do not see poverty being eradicated, I do not see surplus food being eradicated." She called for more organisations and individuals to join the collective effort needed to tackle these deep-rooted problems facing the West Midlands.
