Honda donates to local food poverty charities

Honda has donated a total of £36,000 to three charities who work to combat food poverty in Swindon.

Each year the firm, which leaves Swindon next year, gives its workforce a festive meal ahead of the factory’s Christmas shutdown. 

However, with covid-19 restrictions not allowing for a staff meal, Honda is gifting the money into the local community instead.

Swindon Food Collective, Big Breakfast Plus and Swindon Night Shelter have all been selected to receive a donation of £12,000.

Jason Smith, Director at Honda of the UK Manufacturing, said: “Food poverty is a big concern across the UK and we’re proud to be able to support these charities and the brilliant work they do. 

"Initiatives such as this enable Honda to support the Swindon community both now and beyond our factory closure in July 2021.”

Dan Read, Operations Manager of Swindon Night Shelter, said: “I am incredibly privileged to accept such a generous offer of financial support, thank you Honda for entrusting your funds to our team. 

"With your help Swindon Night Shelter can now bring forth another aspect of its wider vision, and in doing so bring a new hope to even more people suffering the many aspects of poverty in our town.”

The three charities were chosen because of their diverse approaches to the issue of food poverty in the town.

Rosemary Curtis, Chair of trustees at Big Breakfast Plus, said: “We were thrilled and overwhelmed by this unexpected donation. The generosity and goodwill of the community is really important to small local charities like ours - and, more importantly, to those who we support. 

"We’ve struggled to help them since the initial lockdown in March, so this amazing donation will enable us to explore alternative ways in which we can relaunch our service, while helping to secure our future, while we’re still needed.”