Successful campaign to help vulnerable residents in villages near Peterborough to be rolled out

A campaign to get essential items to vulnerable residents in villages near Peterborough has proved so successful, it's been rolled out elsewhere.

In conjunction with Peterborough City Council’s, Bainton & Ashton Parish Council launched the Bright Ribbon campaign in April. Initially, residents in the two villages donated non-perishable food items by placing them on their doorsteps in shopping bags tied with brightly-coloured ribbon.

The food - which included fresh eggs from Plants Eggs - was then collected and delivered to the Peterborough foodbank where it could be passed on to those in need.

Since then the campaign has proved so successful, it has has been rolled out to neighbouring villages Barnack and Ufford, where donation points are located in old-style red telephone boxes.

Councillor Irene Walsh, Peterborough City Council’s cabinet member who helped set up the campaign, said: “We’ve had a fantastic response from residents in the villages who are keen to help those in need. And full credit to Bainton & Ashton Parish Council who supported the scheme from the outset.

“We have been in touch with other parish councils, some of whom were already running schemes of their own and some who were keen to set up their own Bright Ribbon campaign.

"In Glinton the Good Neighbours Scheme is promoting the food donation point at the NISA store on the High Street. An impressive volunteering scheme is also running in the village, supporting local residents in a variety of ways.

“Currently, the donation points in Bainton and Ashton are two repurposed grit bins, one positioned in the centre of each village. All donation points are adorned with bright ribbons so that they can be identified.

"All in all, a fantastic contribution from Peterborough's rural areas."