The Oval Centre in Workington was awarded £6284.50 as part of the £250k Riverside Foundation donation to food insecurity projects in December 2022.

We hope that this donation will help build a sustainable pantry based in the Oval Centre as part of the ‘Well Fed Riverside’ umbrella of projects. This is a comprehensive approach that the Community Planning and Resilience Team have been working on that helps customers retain their dignity whilst receiving support to tackle food insecurity.

Whilst ‘The Oval Pantry’ is still in development, the Workington Rotary Club have stepped in to run the pantry in its current format at the centre until November 2023. It currently opens every third Friday of the month to residents in Salterbeck, providing food and essential items for free or a donation if possible.

The pantry is also being supported by the Salterbeck Tenants and Residents group and Cumberland County Council with the hope to engage more volunteers from the local community.

So far, the pantry has opened three times and supported approximately 70 customers.

Several Riverside staff have offered volunteer support and we will continue to work with local partners to continue advertising for volunteers.