A FINANCIAL boost will help groups continue their work getting supplies to Weymouth residents.

Weymouth Town Council and the local church action partnership Refresh have been awarded a £9,750 Lottery Community Fund grant for the Keep in Touch project.

This grant will enable the project to move forward into a new phase which has been dominated by coronavirus.

The project was first launched in March to deal with the urgent needs of the residents in Weymouth. Since the launch of the project, the groups have served more than 650 local residents by either collecting prescriptions or delivering groceries.

Cllr Gill Taylor said: “Now that we have received this grant, we are able to move forward into a period of re-engineering.

"This will enable us to continue to support our local residents as we adjust to live alongside the threat of the virus. At the same time, we will be improving the service we can offer to them.

"We are continuing to work with Refresh, our valued partner for this project. This is a true partnership effort in a time of need.”

Cherry Clarke from Refresh said: “We are so thankful to all of the businesses, local residents and the lottery who have supported our work in the community to enable us to support our community.

"Every day we are continuing to hear sad stories of people who have been struggling to get supplies or have not spoken to anyone over the past few weeks. We have over 50 wonderful volunteers to are only to happy to help and we cannot thank them enough.”

The project has now included a delivery of fresh meat packs, healthy microwave meals that do not need to be kept in the fridge or freezers, store cupboard essentials and a weekly hot food delivery. There are also prescription pick ups and a listening ear.

Deliveries of food can be arranged on Wednesdays or Fridays with prescription collection services every day.

For access to the scheme call Julie on 07980 730029 or Cherry on 07514 114680.