GREAT YARMOUTH RACECOURSE AND REUBEN FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT LOCAL COMMUNITY WITH EMERGENCY SUPPLY BOXES

The team at Great Yarmouth Racecourse, are working with Great Yarmouth Borough Council to continue to support the needs of people in the borough who currently face real hardship throughout the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, or are self-isolating at home without any family or friends to support them.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council will undertake the distribution of these boxes, as part of the  established emergency food and provision delivery procedures in place at the Town Hall, which is seeing council staff deliver food parcels directly to shielded residents and other vulnerable people, as well as topping up community-run local food banks.

The boxes donated from the Racecourse contain a range of store cupboard and bathroom essentials including tea, coffee, UHT milk, pasta, noodles, sauce, canned fruit, soap, shower gel and toilet rolls alongside meal cards, all designed to help support the local community at this difficult time.

As part of ARC, Britain's largest group of horse and greyhound racing venues, Great Yarmouth Racecourse has been able to work with nationwide suppliers to put together these emergency boxes, with the generous financial support of the Reuben Foundation.

Executive Director of Great Yarmouth Racecourse, Glenn Tubby, said, "We are well aware of the impact that the current health crisis and lockdown has had on many people in the local area.

"Whilst racing at Great Yarmouth has been suspended, we have been pleased to work with Great Yarmouth Borough Council and our suppliers, with the significant financial support of the Reuben Foundation, to put together these emergency supply boxes which we hope will benefit a large number of people across our community.

"We very much hope that the boxes will go some way to helping those who are finding things difficult at the moment and to whom we would like to wish all the very best."

A spokesman for the Reuben Foundation said, "The Reuben Foundation are pleased to support the local community at this time of crisis. This continues our involvement in a number of charitable projects where we have been providing support to families and individuals who are impacted by the pandemic and also in purchasing protective equipment and food for front-line NHS staff and others".

Cllr Carl Smith, the leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said, "The delivery of food parcels to those in need is a critical part of our amazing multi-agency response, and the council's dedicated staff are working with a range of partners, including generous local businesses that are making bulk donations of food and other essentials.

"This incredible donation of 150 boxes per week, for two months, is by far the largest single donation received to date, and will help everyone to continue to stay home, protect the NHS and save lives. Thank you to the Racecourse, the Reuben Foundation and to everyone who continues to play their part in the response."

Plenty of advice and support is available on our website at www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/coronavirus If you are in need of community support for access to essential items call 0808 196 2238. If you are a vulnerable person needing support call 0344 800 8020.