Rescue bid announced in attempt to save Lancaster food charity from closure

Tuesday, 19 November 2024 09:53

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

Ryelands House may be offered to the under-threat Eggcup charity as a temporary home

A rescue package is being put together in efforts to save a Lancaster food charity from closing down.

Eggcup is at risk of closure by January 2025, leaving hundreds of families struggling, unless vital funds can be raised.

But the former leader of Lancaster City Council, in his final speech at the helm, announced he'd asked for a "package of interventions to support Eggcup" including financial help and the possible offer of a temporary home at the vacant Ryelands House.

Eggcup takes in food that would normally go to waste and distributes it to people in need.

The charity, which opened in 2020, has a centre on Chapel Street near Lancaster Bus Station, a shop on Albert Road in the West End of Morecambe, and opened a food club in Carnforth earlier this year.

Councillor Phillip Black, speaking at Morecambe Town Hall on Wednesday, said: "Eggcup has done incredible work, not only saving over a thousand members tens of thousands of pounds and preventing food surplus from being wasted, but it also functions as a lynchpin, buying, storing and redistributing food to the wider food network in our district.

"In January 2025 they are unfortunately due to close. I do not believe that we can allow that to happen but I also know that we alone cannot be the entire solution."

Councillor Black said the rescue package could include "financial assistance, use of council owned buildings, support with business planning and strategy, and coordination of a wider response from other partners and stakeholders in the district".

He said the work was already under way and an emergency meeting of interested parties had been called.

"Whilst we don't have an answer to this problem yet and in all scenarios other partners will be needed to ensure success, I am confident that this council has the ability to step in and prevent disaster," said Councillor Black.

During his speech at Morecambe Town Hall, he mentioned Ryelands House as a possible temporary home for Eggcup.

The council-owned Ryelands House at Ryelands Park was the home of James Williamson, Lord Ashton, businessman, philanthropist and politician, known for his lino-making empire of factories on St George's Quay. It was closed and boarded up in 2023, after tenants moved out at short notice.

Meanwhile a crowdfunding online page set up to help raise funds for Eggcup had raised £8675 at time of writing.

The charity has 126 volunteers, six staff and is helping more than 600 families across the district.

One member of Eggcup said: "I've been a member of Eggcup for three years and have heavily relied on my weekly collections and hugely discounted buying coop purchases to keep my busy family of five well fed throughout that time.

"The staff and volunteers never make me feel judged and have always been encouraging and supportive and seeing what items await me has been a real highlight of my week

"My three kids love Eggcup for giving them the chance to try new foods and combinations, most of which have been amazing and become real family favourites.

"I love that my kids are proud of our culinary creations and love to take pics of their meals to share. It makes them feel good to know much of what we eat would otherwise go to waste and it makes me feel good too knowing they're well nourished, happy and are growing up knowing how to cook fresh, filling food on a budget, skills that will serve them their whole lives."

Phil Tarney, Eggcup manager, spoke to Beyond Radio earlier this month about the possible closure.

"We are at a stage now where we need more funding coming in, in order to survive and carry on the good work that we do," he said.

"It's been hard work to get this far but we don't want to lose all the hard work we've achieved during a pandemic and a cost of living crisis.

"There are still people out there who need our support.

"If we don't get that funding we'll most likely have to close down by the end of the year."

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