Award for volunteers

Volunteers at Oldham Foodbank are celebrating after being awarded a Paul Goggins Memorial Prize runners-up certificate by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Poverty (APPG Poverty) having been nominated for the national award by Oldham East and Saddleworth MP. Pic shows Andrew Barr (left), Debbie Abrahams MP and Fr David Hawthorn with runners-up certificate, in the Speaker’s Rooms at the House of Commons

 THE indispensable work of volunteers at Oldham Foodbank has been recognised after the group received the runners-up certificate having been nominated by MP Debbie Abrahams for a national award.

The Paul Goggins Memorial Prize celebrates outstanding civil society organisations determined to tackle poverty and is in honour of the late MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East who died earlier this year.

Mr Goggins was Secretary to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Poverty (APPG Poverty) and was a long-standing anti-poverty campaigner. Oldham missed out on top spot to Whitefoot and Downham Community Food Project in Bromley at the ceremony held in the Speaker’s Rooms at the House of Commons but foodbank manager Andrew Barr was thrilled with second place.

He said: “It was a fantastic honour to be a runner-up for this national prize, especially as there were so many organisations nominated from across the country.”

Founder of Oldham Foodbank, Father David Hawthorn, was equally pleased to be in such esteemed company.

He said: “To be among so many other active community groups reinforces the impact the foodbank itself is having on the borough.

“I must thank all of our hardworking volunteers who get the job done and who give their time so freely so people who need our provision don’t go hungry.”

Oldham East and Sadddleworth MP Mrs Abrahams said: “Without the incredible hard work, dedication, community spirit and love that the volunteers at the foodbank give so freely, our town would be a poorer place.”