SWINDON'S foodbank has taken a step closer to a secure future after being awarded charity status by the Charity Commission.

The new status will help safeguard the organisation's fundraising after it faced closure in May when its parent company, Swindon Christian Community Projects, collapsed after financial mismanagement.

It was saved by volunteers who set up the Swindon Food Collective, which got financial backing from Swindon Borough Council for the first six months.

The charity needs to find £50,000 every year to keep supplies of food being delivered to around 5,000 people in Swindon.

Clare Collier, a volunteer director of Swindon Food Collective, said: “Now that we have charity status, we can open the management of the charity up to the volunteers and those who wish to support us.

"We will launch a membership scheme and hope that all our volunteers will want to become involved, having voting rights about the running of the charity and work of the directors and trustees,” she said.

The Food Collective has also received two grants, £5,000 from the Wiltshire Community Foundation, and £3,000 from the Zurich Community Trust.

It is hoped the new status will also give the public confidence when donating.

Cher Smith, the Swindon Food Collective manager, added: “People need to know that we are there for them. We welcome referrals from agencies for anyone who is in need. If people need food they must be feel confident to approach our teams at the various distribution centres”.

She added that Citizens Advice and family support workers are able to refer people over the phone or by post.

Andrew Hill, the council’s Social Inclusion & Enterprise Manager, said: “Getting recognition from the Charity Commission is a massive step forward for this project. Now they can begin fundraising in earnest and start claiming gift aid on personal donations.”