Seven Dials Club becomes home to new Covent Garden community centre food bank

A new Covent Garden Community Centre (CGCC) Food Bank initiative has been launched, in collaboration with the Felix Project and Camden Council, to support vulnerable adults and families in the local area due to the effects of coronavirus.

As owners in Seven Dials, Shaftesbury has selected the Dragon Hall Trust and CGCC project as one of the many local charities and community groups in the West End they are supporting under a newly formed ‘Community Fund’ initiative.  The fund was established following the decision by its board to reduce their salaries and pension contributions by 20% for three months from April 1. Shaftesbury’s non-executive directors have made a 20% reduction to their fees for the same period.

Located within the Seven Dials Club on 42 Earlham Street, the Covent Garden Community Centre (CGCC) Food Bank, was officially released to the public on 30th April having originally been approached to assist by The Felix Project and Camden Council in mid-April due to high-demand in the central London area. 

Local residents can simply register for this service via the website and complete an online referral form. Once approved, collections can be made via appointment only or if in isolation, food can be arranged to be delivered directly. Already an integral part of the Seven Dials community and well-known for bringing together people who live, work and study in Covent Garden, the CGCC is now able to provide much needed assistance throughout this difficult period and will continue to support into the months ahead.

Phil Walls, Manager, CGCC, commented: “We wanted to continue our work within the local community and the Food Bank initiative was something we are fully able to support and deliver during these extremely hard times. We are pleased we were able to get this project off the ground so quickly with our partners, and offer people of all backgrounds access, when and if they need it over the coming months. We are also considering the long-term effects as this is not a problem that will go away, which is why we are planning for this service to be available into next year too.”  

 Karen Baines, Head of Group Marketing and Communications at Shaftesbury, added: “The Seven Dials community is truly unique and The Covent Garden Community Centre Food Bank project alongside all the support from other retailers for frontline workers,  just highlights what can be achieved. We are pleased Shaftesbury’s new Community Fund is also supporting this project, alongside others in London’s West End,  as we feel it is so important to pull together and support our neighbours during this time to provide as much assistance to the people that really need it.”

The Dragon Hall Trust and CGCC joins other retailers from the Seven Dials community such as Tatty Devine, Deciem, Kiehl’s, and Neal’s Yard Remedies, who are supporting frontline workers during this time by raising funds, offering significant discounts, to providing PPE and products for NHS staff. Restaurant brands including 26 Grains, Seven Dials Market, Homeslice and Shake Shack have been donating thousands of meals for local charities and frontline workers. The head chef at The Barbary has even created a recipe for NHS meals.

To register or if you are a local business or member of the community who wants to provide support and donations please do contact the Covent Garden Community Centre directly.

www.sevendialsclub.com

42 Earlham Street, Seven Dials, London, WC2H 9LA

Ends

For further information, please contact:  Cassidy or Nick Thornton at Aver via amycassidy@aver.uk.com or nickthornton@aver.uk.com

Notes to Editors

About Shaftesbury

Shaftesbury owns and manages a 15-acre property portfolio in the liveliest parts of London's West End.  Focused on restaurants, leisure and retail in the highly popular, sought-after and prosperous locations of Carnaby, Seven Dials and Chinatown, it also includes substantial ownerships in East and West Covent Garden, Soho and Fitzrovia.   

The portfolio comprises nearly 600 shops, restaurants, cafés and pubs, extending to 1.1 million sq. ft., 593 apartments and 0.5 million sq. ft. of offices.  All our properties are close to the main West End underground stations, which currently handle c 228m passenger’s p.a., and are within ten minutes’ walk of the two West End transport hubs for the Elizabeth Line, at Tottenham Court Road and Bond Street, which projections indicate could be handling 200 million passengers annually by the mid-2020s. 

Seven Dials  

Seven Dials is home to 95 shops, including international flagships and concept stores, renowned beauty and grooming salons as well asover 90 vibrant cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs. The area comprises of Monmouth Street, Earlham Street, Neal Street, ShortsGardens, Neal’s Yard, Endell Street, Shelton Street, Mercer Street and the Seven Dials monument. Combined with two luxury hotels, fivetheatres, two private members clubs, a large number of apartments and offices, Seven Dials is a unique retail and leisure destination inthe heart of London. Due to the current situation, Seven Dials shops, restaurants, hotels, theatres, cafes and bars have temporarily closed, however we continue to support brands who are trading online and we look forward to welcoming visitors back to support the Seven Dials community, when it is safe to do so.

www.sevendials.co.uk

@7DialsLondon