The team at Bakkavour Desserts in Newark's new project is supporting Kings School and Barnby Road Academy food banks and the Salvation Army

Workers at a popular dessert company are committing to five volunteer community initiatives in the countdown to Christmas.

The team at Bakkavour Desserts in Newark is looking to make a positive contribution to the community as this can be a difficult time for many people.

Four projects are being run by Bakkavor colleagues to support their charities of the year — Kings School and Barnby Road Academy food banks.

Bakkavor colleagues have organised a bake sale on-site and a Christmas raffle to raise money for the food banks.

A charity collection box will be available in the staff shop for colleagues to donate money.

The fifth project will see the team donating ambient food items to make up festive hampers which will be distributed to families in the community who need support over the Christmas period.

Beyond support to The Kings School and Barnby Road Academy food banks, Bakkavor Desserts will also be supporting the Salvation Army this Christmas.

This month, Bakkavor colleagues will start collecting hundreds of toys for the Salvation Army’s Christmas toy appeal, a project that will be financially supported by Bakkavor.

Andrjez Szokalski, general manager of operations at Bakkavor Desserts Newark said: “After a busy year, we always like to give something back to the community.

“The three staff projects for The Kings School and Barnby Road Academy food banks will raise further funds beyond the great support our Site Employee Forum and colleagues have already shown this year.

“In addition, our support for the Salvation Army is something that’s very important to us because the toy collection, together with the food hampers do so much to help families for whom Christmas is a really difficult time.”

“These projects will conclude our year-long programme of support for these fine school-run food banks before our colleagues choose a new Charity of the Year to support in 2025.”

The new projects conclude a year-long period of support, which has seen Bakkavor colleagues raise £1,700.

Volunteers from the business also spent the summer months building a sustainable animal habitat environment for children to observe nature up close.