Renovation works to take place for new community cafe and foodbank at Eternity Downham Market

Extensive renovation works are set to begin next month at the home of a market town's foodbank.

Eternity Downham Market, located on Sovereign Way, will have a larger foodbank area, community café, new roof and glass front as part of the changes.

The work is expected to take roughly three months to complete from February 8.

Centre manager Alex Coates has said the foodbank will continue to operate during the renovations with all the produce already donated being moved to a temporary location for storage.

The foodbank received a huge amount of donations from Hillcrest Primary and Nelson Academy’s ‘Reverse Advent Calendar’ scheme before Christmas.

On the works, Mrs Coates said she had been thinking about the changes for a long time after a late member of the congregation left a generous sum of money for the centre.

She added: “We wanted to make this building which is a church into more of a community based centre.

“We already have the foodbank here and we wanted to make it more accessible for people as well as making it a nicer place to be.”

Mrs Coates is confident the work will not be delayed by the pandemic with the centre being closed to the public while the builders are on site.

She continued: “We are in a warehouse and it looks like a warehouse so unless you came inside you would not know it was a church.

“The new building will have a glass front so you can see it’s more than just a warehouse.

“We really hope it will become a real centre for the community. We want people to feel welcomed and know it’s open for them to use.”

Bespoke Norfolk are carrying out the works at the centre.

Eternity Downham has been holding weekly online services during the pandemic at 10.30am on Sunday.

For more information visit www.eternitydownham.co.uk/