A HOUSING association is lending its support to a foodbank to help struggling families in the Redcar and Cleveland area.

The project will see Coast & Country making its Westfield Farm community resource centre available to Redcar Area Food Bank every Friday between 11am and 2pm as a donation point and café.

The project also will provide horticultural and farming experience with volunteers growing vegetables in the grounds of Westfield Farm, The Green, Dormanstown.

People are referred to the bank through Coast & Country, Social Services, Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Christians Against Poverty, Probation and various other organisations.

Iain Sim, chief executive of Coast and Country, said: “Many families in the area are struggling with the extended impact of the recession in terms of rising food and fuel prices, so we hope the food bank will go some way to helping people cope financially.”

The Redcar food bank is appealing for donations of food with a long shelf life, such as tinned foods, pasta and rice, and also would be grateful for any financial support.

As well its involvement with the food bank, Coast & Country’s Westfield Farm is a hub of activity – offering training, meeting and conference facilities. It also provides a base for the Working Communities Team and has a number of community gardens and allotments.