Vital Sherwood group helping to tackle 'stigma' in face of spiralling costs

The Sherwood Exchange was set up during covid and is based at The Place Activity Centre

A Nottingham community centre is helping to tackle the "stigma" of using food banks as its future remains under threat. The Place Activity Centre in Sherwood started operating in 1997 on a peppercorn rent of £10 a year to the building's owner, Nottingham City Council.

Staff at the centre were first informed in 2020 that its rent would be increased to a commercial level of around £12,000, eventually going up to £20,000 within four years. Along with an attempt to set business rates at £9,000 a year, the centre is continuing to fight against the current proposals, which managers say would force closure.

Services run from The Place including the Sherwood Exchange, a service for anyone who wants to swap, exchange, donate or take free food and household goods. The founder of the exchange, former social worker Rachel Jackson, said: "We're not a food bank, we're here for everyone.

"From the richest of residents to the poorest of residents, we're just trying to reduce landfill waste and make sure that everybody's got access to food. We are quickly becoming quite an essential service for the people that are using us."

Running every Saturday, the exchange has benefitted hundreds of people since opening and Ms Jackson says The Place Activity Centre has been vital to its success, given that they were previously struggling to find a base. The exchange is also set to receive a boost thanks to the efforts of volunteer Cal Phoenix, who plans to plant up the front of The Place with fruit trees and vegetables to supply the exchange.

Peter Churchill, the chairman of The Place, says the work of the Sherwood Exchange is an example of the community centre's partnership approach. Other services housed at The Place include mental health sessions and art workshops that promote mindfulness and wellbeing, the latter running in partnership with Thortify.

Mr Churchill said: "There's a huge demand within Sherwood and Carrington for places where artists can go and work, so we've created five studios where people can come and next door to that, we've created a kind of a workshop, meeting, exhibition area where local artists can start to exhibit their work and hold workshops to discuss ideas.

"It's also very good for mindfulness because, for most artists, it's a mindfulness exercise. It's a way of calming the brain and just being calm for a few hours."

Mr Churchill says a meeting is being sought with Nottingham City Council to discuss a compromise over the rent and business rate demands. Rachel Jackson is hoping The Place will stay alive and on the vital work of the exchange, she added: "I've had to use food banks in the past and I know the stigma. We're offering something different here.

"We're somewhere where people can share and that then brings people in who might be a little bit too embarrassed to say they need a food bank, like people working in professional jobs that are stung by the cost of living."

Local heroes like those at The Place could now land up to £2,500 to help them boost their communities, thanks to a new fund set up to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards. Grants of £2,500, £1,000 and £500 are all available as part of the Pride of Britain Fund's £100,000 giveaway for good causes, and you can nominate the people or groups who you think should receive it.

It could be someone who devotes their time to make sure older people have companionship and a warm meal, or an unsung hero who spruces up the high street with flowers. It may also be a sports club, where volunteers give kids a safe space to play, or a youth group putting people on the path to a brighter future.

The £100,000 giveaway is part of celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, which are screened on ITV1 later in the autumn. The fund, a charity that aims to spread the Pride of Britain spirit, was set up to help charities and community organisations across the UK.

It has already given grants to more than 100 groups, including Manchester youth charity N-Gage, which was founded by Christie Spurling, and has helped to transform thousands of young lives. A £30,000 grant from the Pride of Britain Fund helped his charity buy a mobile youth club to engage with young people in the places they hang out.

The converted 25-seater bus is kitted out with game consoles, tablets and music technology. When Carol Vorderman announced the grant, Christie said: "It's amazing. Thank you so much. I am literally speechless. It will make a massive difference."

Grants of £500, £1,000 or £2,500 are available, and you can apply for help with work you are doing, or you can nominate someone you know about to receive funding. The Pride of Britain team will create a shortlist, but the final decision will rest with local communities all over the country, so you will be able to vote on who gets the funding in your area. To apply, scan the QR code and complete the online form or go to reachforms.co.uk/POB to access the form.