A COMMUNITY centre in Yeovil has received £3,000 to set up a food pantry and toddler activity sessions.

The funds were donated by housing association Abri, as part of their Community Fund, to St Peter’s Community Centre in Yeovil. 

They will be used to help families by providing food parcels and offering weekly toddler sessions.

The sessions will give children and parents or carers the opportunity to make friends and share experiences.

Sarah Tuck, centre manager at St Peter’s Community Centre, said: “Our area is the fifth most deprived area of Somerset, and the pandemic has created an even bigger need for this type of support.

"People have become reliant on foodbanks, and the jump between the foodbank and the cost of a weekly shop for some families is simply too much.

"The funding from Abri will help us set up a pantry to help people access long-term support to feed their families healthy food, and also work out their budget.

“We are linked closely with local schools and are aware that there is a need for toddler sessions to help combat social inclusion and isolation.

"The toddler group at the centre was very popular pre-Covid-19, however this has now ended.

"The sessions will enable parents to have access to other services such Abri’s Employment Service’s job club, so parents/carers can access skills and training opportunities at the same time as providing a safe space for those who may feel isolated to meet and develop support networks.”

Abri has awarded more than £40,000 to local organisations and projects since April 2021.

Applications for funding are given to the customer panel - Thriving Communities. This is made up of customers and those living in the community.

"The food pantry will help families move away from relying on foodbanks and support them to eat healthy, on a budget, making them more independent," the panel added.

"The toddler sessions will provide children with somewhere to play, make friends and learn vital skills through interacting with others, something that has been hampered due to the pandemic.

"And it’s great to see that they’re linked in with other services such as the NHS Trusts and providing employment sessions for example.”

Abri’s Community Fund opens for applications three times a year, and organisations can apply for up to £3,000 to support a project in one of Abri’s communities.

The next application window opens on December 1 and closes on February 9 2022.