The charity bringing estate's residents together

Sarah Rutter founded the charity 15 years ago in Ashmore Park

A charity that supports residents of a Wolverhampton housing estate has become the heart of the community, according to the school worker who founded it.

Caring Hearts not only operates a shop supplying affordable goods and clothing in Ashmore Park, but arranges day trips for children and also provides a food bank.

Sarah Rutter founded the charity 15 years ago and said it had brought local people together.

"People support us and they are absolutely amazing on this estate," she said.

Caring Hearts has created Christmas parcels for the local community

The charity was based at Ms Rutter's home until the shop opened in February, with twelve volunteers helping to run it.

Local companies provided free windows, doors, carpets, plumbing and lighting fixtures to bring the store into use.

It came into being when Ms Rutter realised residents needed a variety of goods beyond the food bank's offer.

The shop, providing donated household items, books, toys and clothes, including school uniforms, was a "breath of fresh air", she said.

"On a Saturday you can't move in here, the shop is full, it's bursting and it's just bags after bags of donations."

Harry and Eli visited Weston-super-Mare on one of the trips

Caring Hearts has taken coach loads of children on day trips to visit the seaside and safari parks, many of whom have not had the experience before.

"The scream from the children when they came round the corner and saw the beach for the first time was just unbelievable," Ms Rutter said.

"It makes them feel normal because they don't get to do those kind of things."

But she said that as Christmas approached, people were "desperate" for support, needing items such as tinned food instead of festive goods like mince pies.

"They need to eat meals before they have a luxury," she explained.

Theresa Cooper has volunteered at the charity shop since February

Volunteer Theresa Cooper spends her time collecting donations for the shop and ironing clothes for the elderly.

She said she had noticed a growth in her confidence since she started helping out in February.

"I've come out of my shell a lot, I used to sit in my house and hide away.

"Doing this has brought me forward."

Reverend Tom Fish said the work of Caring Hearts was a "delight" to see

St Albans Church, located next to the charity shop, provides many services for the community including hot cooked meals for more than 100 people every Friday.

Reverend Tom Fish said that the demand for food bank provision had increased as the rising cost of living had "really hit home" for people.

"What we are here for as a church is to offer people hope when they've ran out of hope," he said.

Mr Fish has plans to involve more local charities and social enterprises on the estate in the future, to support the community.