Bradford foodbank awarded £100,000 National Lottery grant

"It's one of the biggest funding awards going to Queensbury in a while," said Mobeen Hussain, manager of the We Are Queensbury foodbank and community hub, which is based on High Street in Queensbury. 

"For £100,000 to come in is a big achievement.

Mobeen Hussain, manager of the We Are Queensbury foodbank and community hub (Image: Newsquest)

"The money that we've brought into this community is for the community.

"This will provide a springboard of opportunities, particularly with the hard times that people are having."

Mr Hussain explained that the application process began months ago.

"I put in an application for the National Lottery Community Grant," he said. 

"I just thought 'let's apply for it' and while it took the best part of three months to gather everything we needed for it, it has all come to fruition.

"It was over £100,000 and this will be put into the community."

Using some of the grant funding will allow We Are Queensbury to buy a van and employ a foodbank manager.

"This is going to help us in our goal to become a charity," Mr Hussain said.

We Are Queensbury was awarded a £100,000 grant (Image: Newsquest)

We Are Queensbury is a foodbank but, in addition, its community hub provides much more for the people of Queensbury.

Mr Hussain said: "We're both a foodbank and a community hub but they support each other."

"We have work coaches come into our community hub and we aim to get as many people as we can back into employment.

"We also have a warm space in the community hub where people can get food and drink and have a chat with others in a comfortable environment.

"We also have a facility to give people advice on their electric and gas and other bills."

Mr Hussain said that We Are Queensbury works in partnership with other groups and organisations within the community.

"The school grows some food and they provide us with food at harvest. We also give them donations."

"We also work together with the community centre.

"We want to get the youth doing something to keep them off the streets.

"We help everyone, young and old.

"As a Queensbury resident, it makes me proud to help represent this community," added Mr Hussain.

"I hope to be a beacon of hope for others."

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