A new community pantry has been added to a supported housing scheme giving more assistance to young families.
The pantry at Bowering Court in North Devon, aims to provide food essentials to residents and ease some financial pressures they may face.
The shelfs are stocked with food items, such as pasta, rice, tins and jars, that can assist in making a nutritious meal.
Amanda Bailey, our Youth Development Worker for Young People, said: “The community pantry has been well received by our residents and they have even been putting items they no longer need into the pantry, such as nappies which their own child may have grown out of.
“We are thankful for the support we received from the supermarket vouchers, that was secured through social value.”
Residents at our supported housing scheme were asked about the new pantry, which they have all now used and they were grateful for the extra support it gave them where a little extra assistance can go a long way.
Our resident at the scheme, said: “The pantry is a great idea, I have used it. I have also put items in the pantry that I no longer need that I believe others could benefit from.”
Simon Cohen, our Community Connector, said: “The Tenancy Sustainment team has stocked the community pantry with a small amount of items, that can be replenished as required.
“But through the social value funding, we’ve been able to add a variety of items to support residents. The pantry not only holds food but household cleaning products, essential baby items and toiletries, which many of our young families find invaluable, especially in an emergency.”
Alongside the pantry, residents also supported in sprucing up the site with planters, hanging baskets and a tidy up.
The Blooming Bowering Day was a great opportunity for residents, children and colleagues to get to know each other better and brighten up the outside area.
Our resident who attended, said: “It's nice to sit outside on the picnic benches and put my hands in some soil, I do love plants and miss gardening, and my child loves getting her hands dirty.”
The planters were completed by some of the young mums and their children, then displayed outside of their homes.
Find out more about our supported housing here.