Uncertainty over future of community centre 'massively stressful' for Peterborough food bank

A food bank volunteer says uncertainty over the future of the community hall it’s housed in has been “massively stressful”.

Erin Tierney, who runs the Thorney and Eye food hub, says she doesn’t want to have to “let any of our families down” when the building changes hands.

“I don’t want to have to turn round to them one week and tell them we can’t help them any more,” she said.

Thorney community centre, on Church Street, has been approved for sale by Peterborough City Council (PCC).

The council has combed through the buildings it owns over the last year to identify any it can sell to save cash.

Thorney community centre and library are among the first to have decisions made about their future.

But PCC documents on the proposed sales say they should be agreed “subject to agreeing terms for the relocation of the foodbank and library”.

Ms Tierney says she’s “officially been told nothing”.

“I’ve not been given any timeframe,” she said. “That’s what makes this a bit more worrying; they could turn around and say the building’s sold, off you go.”

PCC says that it’s “currently in communication” with Bedford Hall, also in Thorney, to “enable the relocation of the foodbank” and that a further meeting to iron out logistical matters will take place this month.

“We fully understand some of the concerns that have been raised and will work to keep community users engaged going forwards”, a spokesperson said.

But Ms Tierney says she’s “not massively confident” the council will help the food bank relocate.

“I’ve had nothing in writing and to be honest I’m probably one of their last priorities,” she said.

She added that the community centre has been "neglected for years” and that selling it was nearly a “done deal” when she became aware of the possible sale last year.

Thorney library is in the same boat, she added.

PCC says that the community centre has not been sold yet, although engaging with potential buyers of various council buildings has formed part of its wider review of its assets.

“Throughout the process we have been transparent and had helpful conversations with community users,” a spokesperson said.

“We will continue to work to find solutions that are suitable for them, as well as meeting the council’s ongoing needs.”

He added that it’s “unfortunate” that Ms Tierney learnt of the potential of the sale of the building from the proposed purchaser last year but that the building has been “deemed surplus for a period of time”.

Ms Tierney runs the food bank alongside a small number of volunteers.

She says her background as a teacher inspired her to get involved.

“I worked at a school and we had kids who would have a piece of bread folded over as a sandwich and a tiny yoghurt or a piece of fruit and that was it,” she said.

“You can see families struggling and I thought that if the shoe was on the other foot and I needed help, I’d like someone to do the same for me.”

Now working as a sign language consultant, she says running the food bank is “like a second job to me and a third child”.

More than 2,600 people are on the books, she says, and the food bank welcomes around 10 to 20 families a week and many more around Christmas time.

It’s a lifeline for working families who may be struggling with the cost of living but don’t qualify for support from means tested food banks, Ms Tierney says.

“We’re going to try to secure a deposit for Bedford Hall or somewhere else, even if we end up getting a storage container somewhere and starting small again and building up,” she added. “We’re not going to stop.”

PCC says it’s aware of some “property specific issues” with Bedford Hall but that it will next hold a meeting with its committee on Monday, 19th February to work out next steps.