Meet Peter Childs, trustee at Cambridge City Foodbank
Regular readers of the newsletter will know that each month we like to shine a light on someone whose work drives us forward as we work to end the need for food banks. This month, we spoke to Peter Childs, a trustee at Cambridge City Foodbank, about his role at our Foodbank, what a trustee does day to day, the upcoming warehouse move and what he likes to do when he’s not supporting our Foodbank.
Read on to find out more…
Can you tell us about your background prior to joining the Foodbank?
I was raised in Hull, and only moved to the Cambridge area three years ago. I’ve spent some time living in the Cotswolds and also lived in Lichfield when I started my family. I retired in my mid-50s, and I spent most of my career working for a German company called Beiersdorf, the makers of Nivea, heading up their supply chain operations. With more free time in retirement, and after overcoming a cancer diagnosis, I was thinking about how I could give back to the community, and the Foodbank was one of the first things that came to mind.
What are your roles and responsibilities at the Foodbank?
I’m one of several trustees who work with the Foodbank. Our job is to support the CEO, Steve Clay, and his team with things such as strategies, vision and values, and how to help the charity move forward. My role specifically is focused on the financial and logistical side of the organisation, so the upcoming warehouse move has taken up a lot of my time recently. We’re currently making some internal changes to the new space so that its suitable for the needs of the charity. Logistically, moving can be a challenge but when it’s done right, it can bring teams closer together and help the organisation move towards achieving its goals.
Some volunteers reading this might not be aware of the work trustees do to support the work the Foodbank does. Could you tell us more about that?
Our responsibilities are to ensure that the charity is legally compliant, set the Charity’s strategy and policies, and offer guidance and support. The Foodbank’s vision is to end the need for food banks, and our job is to offer our expertise and experience to ensure that the organisation is focused on achieving this vision. In the last few years, hunger has skyrocketed. Three years ago, the Foodbank was issuing around 1,000 emergency food parcels per month, now that figure sits at 1,500. At the same time, those supported by Fairbite food clubs monthly has increased from 432 to 1,471. Those on the lowest incomes need support, and it’s important that our work contributes to the Foodbank being able to offer that support through an efficient warehouse and through its Fairbite Food Clubs and Foodbank Welcome Centres. The work that the CEO, Steve, and his team do, supported by the volunteers who are the lifeblood of the Foodbank is critical in meeting this need. As trustees, we support them all to ensure their work is as effective as possible.
Are you able to provide any updates on the warehouse move?
We’re in the stages of making some changes to the building internally to suit the needs of the organisation. We’re waiting for the mezzanine to be fitted, and after that, we're going to install a goods lift which will provide extra storage capacity on the mezzanine so that we can dispense of the need to lease an overflow warehouse. I’m excited for the eventual move, but these things take time. In order for it to serve its purpose and best support those on the lowest incomes, it needs to be structured thoughtfully over time to ensure that we do it correctly.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working on behalf of the Foodbank?
I play golf when I can, which admittedly isn’t as much as I would like! I also love walking with my wife and getting away to the coast to take my daughter’s dog out. The Norfolk coast is wonderful, and I feel lucky that it’s not far from Cambridge. However, these days, most of my time is taken up by supporting my son with his business that provides hockey mentors to children from state schools and/or ethnic minorities, allowing them to excel in a sport dominated by private schools. The work he does creates life changing opportunities for children, and it’s something I’m passionate about and very proud to be a part of.