Somerset Community Foundation backs Seavington (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Somerset Community Foundation backs Seavington

11:00am Sunday 10th March 2013 in Ilminster

THE village-led store and cafe at Seavington has received funding from the Somerset Community Foundation to help elderly people get through winter. The money is being used for people who attend senior lunches at the cafe during the winter.

The cafe hosts a seniors lunch each month with a healthy, locally prepared cooked meal and free transport|within the village provided at low|cost.

The lunches are proving popular – the cafe has been full with nearly 30 diners for the last three months.

Spokesman Mark Ellis said: “At the last seniors lunch on February 11 we were able to give out a winter pack to everyone who needed one, which we had received from the foundation.

“These packs contained a variety of useful things for cold weather such as a blanket, warm socks, woolly hat and mug warmer but also contained useful information for the elderly on what help is available to them in Somerset.

“A variety of agencies and firms still have funding, even in these tight times, to help vulnerable people beat the cold,”

The grant Seavington received will also be used to help provide extra volunteers for the lunches and make life in the kitchen a better working environment for helpers.

Mark added: “The seniors lunches are seen by villagers as not only a healthy meal but more importantly a social gathering which is often difficult to achieve for elderly people in rural environments.”