Ferndown Community Support celebrates successful year

Ferndown Community Support (FCS), provides community support, the Food Bank+, and Community Larder in Ferndown and beyond. With its army of 180 active volunteers, it is able to support the more vulnerable people in society and bring fun and happiness through events.

Throughout 2022, FCS has continued to support residents who need help with shopping and prescription delivery. This is a vital part of its work and of keeping residents happy, as healthy as possible and indeed out of services and hospitals.

Hannah Hobbs-Chell, CEO of FCS, said: “The fact that the more frail, or carers who can’t get out, can use us to get them the essentials they need to live, means they are not risking falls and ill health by going out, and they can stay in their own home instead of a care home for much longer. Similarly, carers can feel safe in the knowledge that they don’t need to rush and risk their loved ones’ health by going out.

“FCS’s first ever Christmas Fayre raised a fantastic £1,760 for its ‘operation Santa Sacks’. Each Santa Sack not only contains toys and sweet treats, but also useful and practical things such as toiletries, hats, scarves and stationery. We wrap each and every item, even the toothpaste!

“This was our third year of running this project, and each year it grows a little more, encompassing young people from a wider area, and referrals from more agencies. This year we used over 500m of sellotape, and

1km of wrapping paper, with seventeen, eighthour working days used to wrap the items. A big thanks to Vantage Accountants and The Affinity Group for their kind sponsorship and wrapping skills for several hours.

“Our mission was thoroughly and completely exceeded. We delivered 130 sacks to disadvantaged young people in the local area. There were tears of joy and relief from parents and young people, and teachers and staff. What a great result.

And last but by no means least, FCS’s Community Larder and Food Bank+ opened in mid April. “What started as a distant dream has snowballed into a massive and hugely important community resource for all. The number of visits is exceeding 750 per month now, from the whole of East Dorset and parts of BCP,” said Hannah. “ We have been able to add on other support too, including benefits and welfare advice and application support, a baby bank, pet food bank, and data bank so that people can have access to the internet from home for homework, job applications and searches, and so on, to help lift people out of difficult situations.”

Its successful holiday Cooking Clubs continue to go from strength to strength too. The food waste saved as a small part of this project is phenomenal, and means the collective carbon footprint in our local area is markedly reduced.

Hannah added: “Thank you to all the shops, businesses and organisations who help make this possible. With your continued help, 2023 looks bright for FCS, with some amazing projects in the pipeline to grow its offering, including Saturday Brunch Club for families and a new allotment project.”

Follow their social media channels for the latest updates.