Our Bury St Edmunds teams up with the Gatehouse foodbank charity to make Christmas 'a little better' for those in need

A new partnership has been struck between a town business support organisation and a charity for those in need.

Our Bury St Edmunds has teamed up with the Gatehouse charity in the hope of making Christmas 'a little better' for those struggling this Christmas.

The Gatehouse Home Store and Foodbank charity, in Dettingen Way, supports families and individuals living on benefits or low income.

Our Bury St Edmunds hopes people buying gift cards for friends or family this festive season might consider buying an additional card to donate to organisation.

The gift cards will then be distributed to foodbank users before Christmas to spend locally on gifts and treats for their households.

It’s also hoped that if businesses choose to give the cards to staff instead of a Christmas bonus, they may consider donating a extra cards to the charity.

Mark Cordell, chief executive of Our Bury St Edmunds, said: “The Our Bury St Edmunds Gift Card is a way of supporting the local economy at a time when businesses really need any help we can give.

"But by generously donating an extra gift card to Gatehouse too, you’ll be helping to make Christmas a little bit better for someone who is struggling.

It could be the difference between some extra treats in a child’s Christmas stocking or perhaps the chance to afford something that many take for granted during the school holiday, such as a visit to a local coffee shop or even a trip to the cinema.

The Our Bury St Edmunds Gift Card can be used at more than 60 different outlets in the town centre from large stores to independent stores as well as beauty salons and restaurants.

Amanda Bloomfield, Gatehouse chief executive, said: “The image of Christmas that we see in the adverts can be very different from the reality for those hardest hit by the cost of living crisis.

We’ll pass any gift card donations on to those who we know are worried about what they can afford to buy at this very expensive time of year and it could be the only way someone is able to buy that gift or treat for their loved ones.

The Our Bury St Edmunds Gift Card can be ordered online via the Our Bury St Edmunds website or picked up in one of the following town centre outlets: Pro-Cook, Buy The Light, Lorfords, Vinyl Hunter and Hunter Club.

To give a gift card to Gatehouse just drop it off at their office in Dettingen Way, or at a special collection point at the offices of the Bury Free Press in Kings Road (securely through the letterbox if closed).

If ordered online it can be sent straight to the charity.

The full amount on the Our Bury St Edmunds Gift Card does not need to be spent all at once.

For more information or to buy the card online visit www.ourburystedmunds.com