Leading housebuilder Bellway has made a £300 donation to Whitby’s Pantry, part of the Intact Preston community centre on Whitby Avenue in Ingol.

With its beautiful development of high quality new build homes known as Cotton Woods taking shape on the former Ingol Golf Club site just off Sheraton Park, the housebuilder was keen to support the community centre which is located just a short distance away.

Providing a valuable local service for the last two years and experiencing a surge in demand due to the current coronavirus pandemic, Whitby’s Pantry is a membership-based food club that enables people in need to access a ‘weekly’ food shop at a fraction of the usual supermarket price.

For just £4.00 per week, members can select approximately £25.00 worth of food from a wide variety of items including fresh meat, pasta, rice, tinned food and other store cupboard essentials from Fareshare, bread and pastries from Tesco and fresh fruit and vegetables from Morrison’s (which are always provided free of charge).

Part funded by the National Lottery and staffed by the Intact team and volunteers, the pantry is open for two days each week and visits are by appointment only.

Intact chief executive officer Denise Hartley MBE commented: “Whitby’s Pantry at Intact Preston provides a sustainable, long-term, community-led solution that can help loosen the grip of food poverty in our area and we are grateful to Bellway for its kind donation.

“The money will help us to boost our pantry stock and buy much needed additional ambient food items plus toiletries and household cleaning products to ensure our customers get the best possible choice and service experience.

“The pantry gives local people in need more choice over the food they receive, providing a community-based shopping experience and a progressive journey that reduces local families’ reliance on food banks while helping improve household food security and freeing up money for other essential monthly household costs such as rent and utilities.”

Incredibly successful, Whitby’s Pantry has more than 200 members and is currently serving approximately 80 people each week. There are no strict criteria to qualify; a simple online membership form is completed by the customer who then receives a membership card and is able to book their first ‘shop’ appointment.

Sales director at Bellway North West, Jenny Bell, said: “When we heard about the work being done by Intact Preston with the Whitby’s Pantry initiative just down the road from our development we really wanted to help. By providing a donation, we hope to help this vital service survive and provide support to those who may need to access it during these challenging times.”

Leading national housebuilder Bellway is building a superb mix of 152 high quality new build homes at Cotton Woods, including two and three bedroom semi-detached homes plus three and four bedroom detached homes.

Build is well underway with the show homes expected to be ready for launch in the Springtime. For further information or to register your interest in news about the development as and when it is released, please contact Bellway by emailing cottonwoods@bellway.co.uk or visit the website www.bellway.co.uk.