Kent community hub in urgent need of funds and volunteers

Oliver Neely is one of the volunteers at the Community Network in Cheriton, near Folkestone

A community hub in Kent is urgently seeking funds and volunteers.

The Community Network in Cheriton, near Folkestone, has a radio station hosted by people with disabilities and autism and a scheme which offers food and toiletries to those in need.

A total of 2,798kg of food has been collected and distributed through the Local Larder project since July, the equivalent of 5,949 meals.

The hub is seeking to raise a total of £20,000.

The Community Network, which is run by disability and autism charity United Response, was established in Cheriton 15 years ago.

It said the funds raised would go towards maintaining the Local Larder project and helping the hub to feed more people in the area.

The scheme aims to combat food waste and support families experiencing food poverty.

The project collects leftover food from local supermarkets, shops and schools, and redistributes it to those in need.

'We can't continue'

A man who regularly uses the larder said: "Being unemployed can be difficult, but the larder has made a positive change for me, my mum and nephew."

As a registered Warm Space, the hub will also be offering a free buffet on Christmas Day.

Senet Yohannes, area manager at United Response, said: "It's the community helping itself in a joined-up way.

"We're empowering people through volunteering opportunities and partnering with local schools and other organisations to support families in need. But like all charities, we're under-resourced and we can't continue to offer this without financial support."

Martyn Cooper, 60, who attends weekly art classes at the hub, said: "I've had a lot of hard times in my life. Painting helps my mental health, and there's no way I'd be without it."

The hub is also seeking volunteers to help with events, food drop-offs and activities.

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