A COMMUNITY initiative that has already helped thousands of people in Dawlish has now launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise £12,000 to expand its support services for residents facing difficult times.

Dawlish Community Larder has been providing food and other essential items to thousands of local families and individuals affected by the rising cost of living.

However, volunteers say that food is often only part of the problem many people are facing.

The group is now raising funds for a new Signposting Project, which will help connect people to support services for issues such as debt advice, housing support, mental health services, employment help, and other community services.

This new project will complement the recent £4,000 grant from Dawlish Town Council to create a purpose-built space for the larder on the ground floor of the Hub Store, which will offer clients the dignity of a shopping experience.

Volunteers at the larder say they regularly meet people who don’t know where to turn for help, and the new project will allow them to spend more time helping people access the right organisations and support networks.

The crowdfunding campaign aims to raise funds to support the signposting service so the larder can continue to support local people not just with food, but with signposting information and some practical help. The team is encouraging local residents, businesses and community groups to support the project by donating or sharing the crowdfunding page.

Local Coordinator of Redeeming Our Communities (ROC) Dawlish, (the charity which runs the larder on behalf of Helping Dawlish), Mark Jones said: ‘Every week we see that many people need more than just food.

‘People are struggling with any number of different challenges, and often they just don’t know where to go for help.

‘This new project will allow us to support people more fully, and in a way that's tailored for their needs, by helping them access the advice and services that can really make a difference to their lives.’

The bid has also been approved for match funding on Crowdfunder.

This means it will match every pound donated up to a maximum of £250 per person.

So, someone giving £10 will be match funded to make £20, up to £250 which will mean £500.

If the ‘all-or-nothing’ £12,000 target is not reached, the project receives nothing.

Organisers have until the end of April to reach that target.

Dawlish Community Larder is run by volunteers and aims to support the local community by providing emergency food support, reducing food waste, and helping people access support when they need it most. Here's the link to support the campaign anonymously or otherwise: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/dawlish-community-larder-signposting-project

Donations can be left at Co-Op, The Manor House, Hope Church, St. Gregory’s Church, the Methodist Church and The Hubstore.