Food bank finds a new home in Grangemouth town centre

Earlier this month a reported “breakdown in communication” between Kersiebank Community Project (KCP) management committee and Falkirk Council’s community learning and development service resulted in KCP leaving the Old Dundas School premises in Oxgang Road, Grangemouth.

The charity was only able to continue its food bank thanks to local hotelier Nawaz Haq, who kindly allowed it to use his Helix Hotel in Kerse Road on a temporary basis for a couple of weeks.

Now KCP confirmed it is soon to get the keys to the vacant Poundstretchers store in La Porte Precinct – which closed down in 2018 – but did not give The Falkirk Herald any details as to how it managed to secure the property.

In a message on its Facebook site, the group stated: “The old Poundstretchers in Grangemouth will be our new home. We will be looking for volunteers to help us clean and paint once we get the keys and we are looking for paint, carpet off cuts, cleaning equipment, rollers, paintbrushes, office furniture, and anything else that could make our new space look clean and tidy and ready to go.”

The new base will be hosting the food bank as well as a clothing bank, art classes, cooking classes, holiday programmes, social evenings and school uniform initiatives.

In an earlier online post, KCP pointed out groups and clubs run by Falkirk Council at the Old Dundas School were not be affected by Kersiebank Community Project moving out.

Last week a Falkirk Council spokesman said: “For many years the community learning and development service has worked in partnership with Kersiebank Community Project management committee to support them to make a positive contribution to community life in Grangemouth.

“As the management committee has experienced a number recent challenges, CLD has temporarily taken over the running of the centre and are currently working with the management committee and other partners to resolve this situation.”