Foodbank to expand service at larger site

Three Crowns West St Oldham and plans for New Oldham Food Bank premises.

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OLDHAM Foodbank will be moving to premises four times the size of its base in Clegg Street.

The Council submitted a change of use application on the former Three Crowns pub, in Manchester Street, at the beginning of the year, which means the foodbank could relocate by the end of October.

The planning committee unanimously approved the plans at last night's meeting.

Foodbank manager Andrew Barr said it would not only mean helping many more in need but would also allow them to dramatically increase their range of support services.

No longer simply an emergency food depot, they have started offering a one-to-one debt support and budgeting service through a project with Christians Against Poverty and Oldham's vulnerable people's charity, KeyRing.

Relocating from Clegg Street - which was only meant to be a temporary six-month home back in 2012 - will open up many opportunities and consequently help to turn more lives around.

They will launch a Real Junk Food Project pop-up cafe which uses food from supermarkets and cafes which would otherwise go to waste.

The foodbank would also expand its relationship with Incredible Futures Oldham to make use of food grown by local community groups and develop "Eat Well, Spend Less" courses for families.

They're also planning to set up a clothing bank for people who are going for job interviews and work closely with MIND to offer confidence-building classes.