From Kickstart Scheme to crucial team member

Henry Jiggins, Warehouse Manager at Hackney Foodbank

When Henry Jiggins joined the Hackney Foodbank warehouse team it was part of a government Kickstart scheme, aimed at supporting young people into work.

Since then, he’s gained qualifications in first aid, as a forklift driver and in PAT electrical testing and is now employed full-time as Assistant Warehouse Manager.

Each morning Henry, 24, loads dozens of crates of food onto the food bank lorry ready for delivery to the distribution centres before helping to oversee teams of volunteers packing emergency food parcels.

He said: “I was selected for the Kickstart scheme after meeting someone from Hackney Foodbank when I visited the job centre.  I’ve been here for a couple of years now.

“Every day I help sort the donations that come in from the public – it makes me feel so happy to know how many generous people there are out there.  Sometimes we have to go online and order food too – I’ve learnt to choose wisely so we get as much for the money as possible.

“I’ve always been pretty organised, but I’ve learnt a lot since working here and I hope to get more courses under my belt soon.

“On average, we feed between 600 and 700 people per week – it’s a lot and we rely on volunteers to help – usually 10 here in the warehouse a day.”

Henry, who lives near the food bank’s headquarters in Hoxton, studied construction at college. In his spare time, he loves fishing.

Pat Fitzsimons, CEO of Hackney Foodbank, said: “Sorting emergency food parcels for hundreds of people every week is a huge task and Henry, Daniel (our Warehouse Manager) and Sahar (our warehouse assistant) do a brilliant job. The system is so well-oiled, there isn’t so much as a tin of beans out of place!  They’ve also compiled a brilliant play-list, which our volunteers often comment on!”

Hackney Foodbank urgently needs more volunteers to work as drivers (between 10am and 1pm Monday to Friday), in the warehouse weekdays: (8.30am-11.30am or 12pm-3pm) or at the distribution centres (various shifts available Monday-Saturday).  To find out more, visit: www.hackney.foodbank.org.uk/volunteer