On December 20, 2023, the Storehouse at West Wilts Vineyard, unveiled a new facility aimed at helping the homeless: the Hardwick Suite. This is not just a typical food bank facility, but a shower and laundry unit specifically designed for those living rough on the streets. Storehouse is run by West Wilts Vineyard and based at Emmanuel’s Yard and was featured on the BBC News Website.
The suite was named in honor of Stephen Hardwick, a beloved member of the community and a regular visitor to the food bank, who passed away earlier in the year. Jill Neighbour, the manager of Trowbridge Storehouse Foodbank, expressed that Stephen's life held significant meaning for the community. His humble nature had left a lasting impression on her. Despite his own needs, he would only take the food he required, insisting he didn't want to take away from others who might need it more.
The lack of basic facilities for the homeless, such as laundry services, was a topic often discussed. The new suite is aimed at addressing this issue by offering free laundry and shower facilities. This allows those in need to clean up and change into a fresh set of clothes, thus restoring a sense of dignity and respect that everyone deserves.
The opening of the Hardwick Suite was attended by Trowbridge Mayor, Stephen Cooper, who emphasized the importance of the work done by the food bank. He commented on the tough times experienced over the year and the rising food prices that have placed many people under financial strain.
But amidst all this, he found inspiration in the fact that many of the food bank's team were previous beneficiaries of the Storehouse's services. Having benefited from the food bank themselves, they were now in a position to give back to others in need.
The opening of the Hardwick Suite is a testament to the Storehouse Foodbank's commitment to not just feeding the less fortunate, but also providing them with the means to maintain their basic hygiene and self-respect.
Following the opening a Christmas Lunch was held for about 60 people in the local community.
Congratulations to Jill and the team for all the hard work in making this happen.
You can read the full BBC article here or view the BBC Points West clip here.