Hundreds of people are being helped as community organisations come together to battle the challenges of Covid-19.

The Weymouth and Portland chapter of the church-based social care organisation Refresh has managed to continue its various outreach programmes for those in need, including food banks, debt counselling and helping rough sleepers.

District coordinator Cherry Clarke has revealed recent achievements and upcoming plans for promoting various projects in the coming months.

The Weymouth food bank is expanding, with a move to new hub premises, setting up as an independent charity with a new board of trustees responsible for sending food out to four branches around the area. One food bank will be open each day and is looking for people with a vehicle to help transport food from the central hub.

The “Keep in Touch” programme saw volunteers help at least 486 people in recent weeks, collecting 457 prescriptions for the housebound and undertaking at least 218 shopping trips for the same group, however the scheme is currently on pause.

Cherry added: "The organisation Church Against Poverty (CAP), including a debt counselling charity and CAP Money that gives talks to students on money management and avoiding debt – resuming in October - is also expanding with a new team in place for Weymouth and Portland. Atotal of 23 people in the district were able to become debt-free through CAP in the first seven months of this year.

"Planning is under way for 'Safe Sleep 2020', a programme to get homeless off the streets for the winter and into temporary accommodation in churches (each taking turns on a voluntary basis in a one-week cycle), which last winter celebrated its goal of preventing any deaths among rough sleepers.

"Refresh has also been running a 'Healing Rooms' programme with volunteers on hand on a weekly basis at St. Adhelm’s in Radipole and a team at a coffee shop in Dorchester, offering prayers and counselling to help those with a troubled mind for any reason. Although these can no longer operate due to coronavirus restrictions on face-to-face contact, they will continue on an experimental basis via zoom with the first session scheduled for September 21."

For more information, or to make a donation to Refresh to support all of these activities, contact cherry.clarke600@gmail.com or call 07514 114680.