Royston’s food bank is moving closer to opening and this week received a boost in the form of an £1,800 grant.

As reported in The Crow before Christmas, a group of people from the town are looking to set up a food bank to provide food for people on low incomes.

The working party has now secured premises for a warehouse courtesy of Royston Homestore, in South Close, and hope to be up and running soon.

Town councillor Lindsay Davidson is one of those setting up the Food Bank, and told The Crow that a few administrative hurdles had to be cleared before they could get started.

She added: “We’ve been overwhelmed with the number of people who have come forward to volunteer, and are very grateful to Homestore for donating us the use of the room which will be our warehouse.”

The £1,800 grant has been awarded by North Herts District Council’s Royston and district area committee. Councillors agreed the move at their meeting on Wednesday.

“We are extremely grateful for the grant,” said Cllr Davidson. “This will enable us to begin to equip our food storage warehouse with non perishable food and toiletries and so we can get our Distribution Centre up and running as soon as possible”.

Food bank use has rocketed in the UK in the last couple of years. The Royston group are working with the Trussell Trust which partners with churches and communities to open new food banks nationwide, and helps run the already established Food Banks in Letchworth and Hitchin.

Cllr Tony Hunter, Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement at North Herts District Council, said: “Unfortunately, the current challenging national economic circumstances mean that an increasing number of people are finding themselves in need of services such as the emergency food provision that the Royston food Bank will provide. We are really pleased that the Royston Area Committee can give this worthy project a helping hand.”