Riley Square developer backing for local food hub

A company specialising in retail development that has been regenerating Riley Square in Bell Green has donated £500 to a grub hub that provides a vital food supplies to local people

Innovative Retail Development (IRD) has been working in the city for over the last year and recently the Council’s Community Resilience team contacted IRD to highlight some of the projects happening in the local neighbourhood.

IRD were keen to offer support to local community organisations operating close to Riley Square and after having already supported Bell Green Community Centre with a £250 donation for materials to decorate the centre, were keen to offer some more support to help fund food support to families in the community.

The local grub hub in the area run by Moat House Community Trust in the Wood End and Henley Green areas of the city, provides on average 135 food parcels a week to families who may struggle to put food on the table.

Since the pandemic began, they have supported even more families in the area than ever and the additional resources and funding they received has been welcomed.

Cllr David Welsh, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, said: “I’ve been talking to volunteers at the local grub hub and saw how busy they are. We are seeing a growing number of food hubs offering cost-effective supplies to families and individuals most in need.

At the same time IRD are yet another business working in the community who have actively wanted to make a difference to peoples’ lives. I’d like to thank them for their generous support.”

Diane Williams CEO of the Trust shared Diane Williams CEO of the Trust shared “As a community response to supporting its own community, we are very grateful for the contribution from IRD””

Jason Everard from IR Developers added: “Innovative Retail Development Ltd (IRD) are pleased to be able to contribute to the Moat House Community Trust Grub Hub. The Trust do great work helping the area’s residents and local community. We at IRD want to improve and develop Riley Square and restore it back to the thriving heart of the Bell Green area, that it once was. So, we are happy to help other local organisations that share our goal to support the local community.”