Novus Blog
Build Back Better: The Novus Food Bank Appeal
As a business, Novus has set a clear vision to be a force for good. We know that Covid-19 has had a huge impact on our society and therefore, as a responsible business, we are committed to playing our part in supporting the communities who need the most help.
Novus Food Bank Appeal
In 2020, 32% of Novus colleagues voted that we should be supporting local food banks. Therefore in December, we launched the Novus Food Bank Appeal as part of our wider Build Back Better Campaign.
Below are just some of the highlights of how Novus teams throughout the UK helped to support our Food Bank Appeal:
Novus Liverpool
The Novus Liverpool Team donated £200 worth of food to their local foodbank based at the St. Leonard’s Youth and Community Centre in Bootle.
The Food Bank supports some of the most deprived communities in the country.
Novus Liverpool used the Food Bank Appeal guide, contacted their local food bank, found out which food items would be of most benefit, and then ordered the required items from a local supermarket.
People and Culture director Sophie Seddon joined the team to hand over the food donation. She said:
“I wanted to show my support to the National Novus Food Bank Appeal and asked the Liverpool team if I could support their collection and donation. Food Poverty is one of the factors that impact people in poverty, and no one should have to go hungry, which this donation will help towards.”
Novus Stoke
A local government hardship commission suggests that 38% of households in Stoke-on-Trent are living on less than £16,000 per year (the minimum amount required to access basic goods and services in Britain). With that in mind, the Novus Food Bank Campaign inspired the Stoke Office Team to put together two food bank donations worth £150 in total. The donations were made up of items from the Food Bank website wish list. The Novus Stoke team wanted to do their part to help feed members of the local community who are struggling at this time of year. The food donation was delivered to Blurton Methodist Church where it would be then distributed to those in need around the city. |
Novus Devon
The Novus Devon team have donated a massive £5000 in total to food banks in partnership with Guinness across their Region.
Sharon Sheppard, Novus Customer Liaison Officer, is pictured handing over a £1250 cheque to Plymouth Food Bank Project Manager Maria. Maria said that the donation would help meet the increased demand placed on the food bank as a result of the impact of Covid. |
Novus Wrexham
With the support of colleagues, subcontractors, suppliers and local residents, Novus in Wrexham have donated a huge amount of food, warm clothing, and luxury items to their local food banks and homeless charities.
These items included:
- 100 brand new blankets
- 30 shoe boxes of luxury and essential items were collected and donated – each box all included minimum of hat, scarf, gloves, socks, shampoo, hair gel, toothbrush and toothpaste, as well as festive treats and other luxury items – ensuring each recipient had a present to open Xmas morning
- 8 or more bags of essential clothing
- £150.00 donated in cash contributed towards a Boxing Day buffet breakfast for the homeless
- £100 worth of food items specifically requested by the food bank
Novus Preston
Novus Preston have been working on a Framework partnership with Community Gateway Association to carry out external repairs and decorations to homes in the local area. Novus teamed up with Gateway Housing to donate food to Community Gateway Association’s “Purple Pantry” initiative, who provide food to the less fortunate people living in Gateway homes. |
Novus Warrington
Novus Warrington and their sub-contractors collected food for The Cornerstone in Manchester – a charity that helps vulnerable and disadvantaged adults in the community.
The Warrington team also donated £100 worth of food parcels to Warrington Food Bank Warehouse. |
Novus Birmingham
Novus has recently been working close to St. Chad’s C of E Primary School in Birmingham on a contract with Bromford Housing.
The school prides itself on supporting their entire community and work closely with nearby St. Chad’s Parish Church to help the vulnerable in the area.
In recognition of this, Novus and Bromford donated £100 worth of Tesco shopping vouchers as a contribution to their own food bank appeal. These vouchers helped to purchase food parcels for vulnerable families in the local area.
Additionally, Novus Birmingham also donated 20 children’s Christmas stockings to the mother and child sanctuary currently being painted on behalf of Bromford.
Novus BathgateThe Novus Scotland team donated £100 worth of food to a local food bank in Bathgate, Scotland |
Novus GatesheadThe Novus Gateshead Team made food donations to Karbon Homes food bank appeal. |
Novus DerbyNovus in Derby made contributions to the Hill St. Baptist Church’s food bank in Swadlincote, Derby. |
Novus York
Novus York has been working with Selby District Council over the last three years.
As part of their food bank appeal the York Office supported Selby District’s local food bank by donating £100 worth of food.
After asking what food items the local food bank were in need of, colleagues from the York office went to the local supermarket and collected these items.
Selby’s food bank provides three days’ worth of nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to them in times of crisis.
Plus, the York Office also supported Sheffield’s local food bank; “The Foods Works “by donating £100 worth of food.
Over the first lock-down period, the Sheffield Food Bank prepared more than 10,000 meals and 9000 boxes of groceries for the vulnerable people of Sheffield.
Personal Donations
Many Novus employees chose to make personal donations to their local food banks as part of our appeal.
Here is Kevin (pictured) making his donation to a food bank in Sheffield. Kevin Commented; “I put my postcode into the National Food Bank website and it highlighted there is a Food Bank less than 2 miles from where I live. As I am working from Home and don’t live close to a Novus office it I wanted to support the Novus Food Bank Appeal.” |
“I gave the Food Bank a call and they updated me as to what days and times they were open, and they highlighted the type of food they were running low on (pasta, tinned tomatoes, and tinned fruit), so I donated these items.”
Thank you
We want to say a big thank you to everyone who has participated in our Food Bank Appeal over the festive period and encourage everyone to keep donating to their local food banks.
Look out for more social value initiatives in the coming weeks and months!
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