A racing club and youth motorsports project in Bridport quickly came to the aid of one of the town's food banks when it began running out of space.

Cupboard Love Food Bank, which is based in St Mary's Church in South Street, had problems storing all the food that was being given to them once the pandemic started.

The Bridport Youth and Community Centre was asked if it could help, and with the support of the Bridport Bandits - the group based at the centre - managed to create a large storage room.

The bandits generously gave up one of their garages and it was turned into a safe and clean area, with shelving provided by the food bank.

Carrie Gamble, manager of the food bank, explains how Cupboard Love works. She said: "We are open from 11am to 1pm every Wednesday, so if anyone needs support and hasn't come yet, please call into the church as we want to help everyone in need.

"We also have CAB and the You Trust in every week helping people with housing and other support. There has been amazing support by members of the community offering to volunteer, and businesses offering all sorts of help, and we are so grateful for all the donations, both food and financial."

Charlie Bodycomb, a regular volunteer at the food bank, said: "Since the pandemic began, dealing with stock has become a challenge. We are managing many more tins, boxes of cereal, pasts and all the other things we are given.

"Supermarkets, local businesses and individuals stepped up their donations because the problem became so much more severe during lockdown. And the economic impact led to more people needing held and support to feed their families."

Bridport Bandits and Bridport Youth and Community Centre were more than happy to help Cupboard Love.

Kelvin Clayton, chairman of the Bridport Youth and Community Centre, said: "The centre was more than pleased to support the food bank and delighted that the bandits were able to offer to help by kindly giving up one of their garages.

"It is still offering motorsport activities and teaching car mechanics to boys and girls - it is a popular club."

As well as the Bridport Bandits, the youth and community centre also offers youth clubs on Wednesdays and Fridays. The Swifts Junior Youth Club for eight to 11 year olds meets on Wednesdays from 5.30m to 7pm and the Xtreme Senior Youth Club for 11 to 18 years olds meets on Fridays from 7pm to 9pm.

Due to increased demand for youth club places in the youth club, additional funding has been made possible to open up an extra night for Swifts Junior Youth Club from 5pm to 6.30pm on Friday evenings.

For more information, visit bridportycc.com or email [email protected]

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