STAFF at a Chaddesley Corbett hotel have donated bags full of food and essentials to Kidderminster Foodbank, with the number of people accessing its services rising by more than half in 2022.

The Foodbank has seen increased need and rising costs as a result of the cost-of-living emergency, with a total of 5,593 people using the service in 2022 compared to 3,588 in 2021 – an increase of 56 per cent year-on-year.

Brockencote Hall Hotel has stepped in to help by handing over more than 130 items of essentials, including sugar, coffee, tinned food, and toiletries.

The hotel made the donation as part of its annual ‘Giving Back’ campaign, where it pledged to donate one filled bag for every bedroom sold over the festive period.

Jack Hartshorne, General Manager of the hotel, off the A448, said: “We’ve always had really close ties with our local community and this is the second year we have dedicated our Giving Back campaign to the Foodbank.

“It’s heartbreaking to see such a significant increase in people using the Foodbank in Wyre Forest over the past year.

“A lot of foodbanks have never known a situation like this. The role they play is so important and we really wanted to do what we could to help.”

All hotels within the boutique hotel collection have chosen a local charity to support as part of their annual Giving Back campaign.

Kidderminster Foodbank has been running since 2012 and provides three-day emergency food supplies and support to local people who are referred to them in crisis.

The Project Management Team at Kidderminster Foodbank said: “Sadly, we have seen a significant increase in the number of people supplied with food through 2022, which has risen by more than 50 per cent compared to 2021.

“These donations enable us to keep functioning to support those who are referred from a range of registered referrers.”

The Foodbank is welcoming donations to Unit 9 at Swan Shopping Centre.