Labour’s Kim Leadbeater has been praised for her work “inspiring and motivating” volunteers to get involved with a local foodbank.
Kim visited Cleckheaton foodbank with Labour’s shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves to talk about her work ensuring local residents received food parcels and wellbeing packs during lockdown.
Kim, Labour’s candidate for Batley and Spen, established a local referral hub during the pandemic to ensure the speedy delivery of assistance via local foodbanks to those in need.
The Cleckheaton foodbank – run by Churches Together – was one of the organisations involved in the project.
Brunel James, vicar of Cleckheaton, said:
“Kim has just been great in terms of inspiring people and motivating people. We wouldn’t have got some many volunteers coming forward if this volunteering culture that she’s established and championed hadn’t been so prominently promoted.
“We’ve had loads of volunteers come and join us because they’ve got mobilised through Kim and her team.”
Kim Leadbeater, Labour’s candidate for Batley and Spen, said:
“Cleckheaton Food Bank is a wonderful place that has been doing amazing work during the pandemic. I’ve worked very closely with them to get food provision out to people who have been struggling during lockdown.
“In addition we’ve provided some wellbeing packs to people living on their own and its brilliant work – it’s just extremely sad we need this sort of thing but while ever we do need it I know there are an amazing bunch of volunteers working incredibly hard to ensure nobody across Cleckheaton is struggling.
“It’s brilliant to be here today as it’s been so heartwarming to work with Brunel and all the volunteers, during the pandemic as we’ve got those food parcels and wellbeing packs out to people.”
Rachel Reeves MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, said:
“I’ve known Kim for many years and I’ve seen the effort and energy she puts into the local community here in Batley and Spen. Nothing is ever too difficult or too big for Kim to get stuck into and to resolve.
“I know that if the people of Batley and Spen elect Kim as MP she will take the voices of people in this community to Westminster and really get things done. Because that’s what Kim does: she gets things done for local people.”