A NEW charitable donation centre has opened in the heart of a city centre and residents have been encouraged to make donations towards a foodbank or Ukraine.

The donation centre is located next to Primark in Colchester’s Lion Walk Shopping Centre and was formally introduced on Friday, February 10, by mayor and mayoress Tim Young and Nicola Goodchild.

Martin Leatherdale, centre manager for Lion Walk Shopping Centre, assisted the launch of the donation centre.

He said: “As we currently wrestle with both a domestic cost of living crisis, and the ongoing international crisis in Ukraine, it is as important as ever that we pull together as a community to support those who need it the most at home and abroad.

“Following discussions with Colchester City Council, who are doing everything they can to support the ongoing crisis - we are able to provide a city centre platform, to receive donations.

“Helping both the residents of Colchester who use Colchester foodbanks, and also to further support to the Ukrainian Community of Colchester - who will collaborate to send aid to Ukraine directly from Colchester.”

Mr Leatherdale has also expressed his condolences to the victims tragically affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria which has taken more than 35,000 lives.

He added: “We will always maximise our network to support the needs of both domestic and international charities the best we can.

Mike Beckett, chief officer of Colchester Foodbank, expressed his delight in collaborating with donation centre.

He said: “We look forward to working in partnership with the Lion Walk team, and members of the Ukrainian Community.

“A dual donation collection point will help ensure that Colchester Foodbank can continue to help local people in crisis.”

The new dual purpose donation centre will be open daily from Monday to Saturday between 11am and 4pm at the shopping centre in Culver Walk.

For further information on the centre and projects it is involved in email martin.leatherdale@lionwalk.co.uk.