STAFF and students at South Essex College, including the Grays campus, have come together to support their local communities by fundraising for local foodbanks.

The college has joined the national 'FE Foodbank Friday' campaign, which is seeing further education organisations around the country coming together to raise money for community foodbanks, including Thurrock's. Many foodbanks are seeing a decline in donations at this challenging time and are in need of support.

As the country went into lockdown, the college donated food from its catering outlets including the Waves restaurant at Grays to local organisations and is now fundraising to help those in need.

College principal, Angela O'Donoghue, said it was important to help those in need in these unprecedented times, adding: "Staff and students at South Essex College have shown their generosity and charitable nature over the years by holding countless fundraising drives and it comes as no surprise that they are just as keen to help those in need now.

"Good can come out of every crisis and that is certainly what we are seeing here at South Essex College as we come together with other colleges across the country to support our local communities."

To donate to the college's FE Foodbank Friday campaign click here.