RBS converts Edinburgh Conference Centre into food distribution centre

• COVID-19
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COVID-19: Our members taking responsible business action

This is a challenging time for everyone in Scotland and we are delighted to work with The Scotsman, Edinburgh Evening News, the Trussell Trust and Social Bite to help make a difference to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities

Malcolm Buchanan, Chair, Scotland Board, Royal Bank of Scotland

Food distribution centre

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has issued a call for businesses to donate food and hygiene products to support poverty charities during the COVID-19 crisis.

The Business in the Community (BITC) member has turned its Edinburgh head office’s Conference Centre into a distribution centre, to supply food and hygiene products to the Trussell Trust food banks and Social Bite charity.

Call to action for business and individuals

Businesses and individuals across Scotland are being asked to donate any non-perishable food and hygiene products they can spare to the bank’s new food distribution centre in Edinburgh to help keep two food poverty charities well-stocked during the coronavirus crisis.

The bank, which has its head office at Gogarburn, is supporting the Trussell Trust and its network of food banks in Scotland, and Social Bite, a charity which is aiming to provide 4,000 food packs a day over the next three months for vulnerable people in Scotland, in sourcing and distributing much-needed food and hygiene supplies.

Temporary drop-off centre

The temporary drop-off and distribution centre is now ready to accept donations of non-perishable foods and hygiene products to meet the unprecedented increase in demand the two charities are currently facing.

Working in partnership

Catering contractors for RBS, including Baxter Storey and Benugo, have already pledged to donate food from the bank’s kitchens, with companies including the Hilton Doubletree Group and Edinburgh College offering their support.

The Scotsman and the Edinburgh Evening News are also backing the drive.

Any business or organisation that can safely transport supplies to Gogarburn is being called upon to support the national effort to keep vulnerable people fed.

The bank is operating a drive-in donation system to ensure the safety for volunteers and those coming on its site to donate.

It will be staffed by volunteers from the bank who will be kitted out with personal proactive equipment (PPE) to ensure their own safety and that of others.

Malcolm Buchanan, Chair, Scotland Board, Royal Bank of Scotland, said:

“This is a challenging time for everyone in Scotland and we are delighted to work with The Scotsman, Edinburgh Evening News, the Trussell Trust and Social Bite to help make a difference to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.

“This is a time when everyone can work together to help support each other and we are calling on the public and companies who have the time or the resource and to get involved.

“Our Gogarburn Conference Centre will become a temporary food distribution centre for the Trussell Trust and Social Bite, with many of our colleagues volunteering their time to support and help these groups reach as many deserving people and families as possible.”

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