BRIDPORT food bank, Cupboard Love, is being relaunched as an independent charity in a bid to serve the community better.
Based at St Mary’s Church, the service was established in 2013 to address food poverty in the area and since then that need has ‘steadily increased’ with a ‘significant spike’ during the pandemic.
The move to be an independent charity will give the food bank access to a wider range of funding support in future and scope to explore how it might extend the services currently offered, as well as being more accountable.
One of the new trustees, Mayor of Bridport Cllr Ian Bark, said: “Cupboard Love is now a registered charity with its own bank account. In many ways nothing has changed, it will still deliver much needed food and other support to those in need, and it will still be delivered from St Mary’s Church.
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“The big difference is that the operation will now be governed under the exacting rules of the Charity Commission with a board of trustees having oversight, making it more open to scrutiny and more accountable.”
Becoming a charity also means Cupboard Love will qualify for Gift Aid meaning for every £100 donated the organisation will get £125.
Since its inception the food bank has been based in St Mary’s Church where it has run every Wednesday, along with storing non-perishable food there.
The church will remain supporting Cupboard Love after its switch and hopes to be able to help more people who need it with the new move.
Carrie Gamble, food bank coordinator said: "Cupboard Love provides more than food. We work in partnership with a whole range of support agencies.
"We run from St Mary’s Church, Bridport every Wednesday between 11am until 1pm. There is a system of referrals, but if you need help just turn up. We offer food, support, advice or just a cup of tea and a chat.”
Unfortunately, Cllr Bark said what ‘was conceived as a short term solution to an immediate need has some nine years later sadly become an ever expanding and ongoing lifeline’.
He added: “It is for that reason that the operation and management of Cupboard Love has been reviewed in order to reflect the increased demands and complexity of continuing to deliver the service.”
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