Popular community centre awarded cash to help vulnerable through Coronavirus outbreak

An independent charity at the heart of the community in Exeter has been awarded a total of £6,000 for two projects to help people through the Coronavirus outbreak.

St Sidwell’s Centre has been awarded the cash to help some of the most vulnerable people in Exeter.

The money comes from the Exeter Covid-19 Community Action Fund. The £1 million Fund is being run by Exeter City Council as part of the Exeter Community Wellbeing initiative and is supported by Exeter Chiefs Foundation.

Centre Manager Dave Wright said the money would help them provide food for the vulnerable, now that other services are closed. It would also allow them to offer community support and distribute food and meals to some of the most vulnerable families and school children in the city.

Dave added: “We have a small team of volunteers and staff at the Centre and we are able to bake bread and prepare meals in our community kitchen. We have set up a home delivery service and this money will help us to continue reaching out to people through these difficult times.”

Cllr Amal Ghusain, Lead Councillor of Equalities, Diversity and Communities, said: “St Sidwell’s Centre does so much good work in Exeter – they really are one of the central pillars of our community here in the heart of Exeter. I can’t think of a better or more worthy cause to support during these times.”

To find out more about the Exeter Grants Programme, go to the City Council website https://exeter.gov.uk/people-and-communities/grants/exeter-grants-programme/