Caritas Care’s Community Centre at Plungington is celebrating after receiving a generous donation of £5,000 from The Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund to support the running costs of the centre in these uncertain and unprecedented times.

The centre has become a vital resource over the years for the residents of Plungington and the wider community. Prior to lockdown restrictions, the centre provided a whole range of facilities and activities throughout the week including; Community café, Café Emmanuel, a popular gathering place for people to meet up with friends and make new connections, Yoga, Slimming World, Dancing, food share club, drugs and alcohol services and many more community based projects.

Some of these activities have been able to continue on line, which has allowed the centre to maintain a connection in the community until there comes a time when they can open their doors again. Amongst these are the New You food share club and Tribal projects Drugs and Alcohol support.

Ben Clayton, Plungington Community Centre Manager said “The support given by The Duchy of Lancaster’s generous donation to Plungington Community Centre, will enable the Centre to continue to support those most in need in inner city Preston. This money will help us to meet the needs of the local community both now and once we emerge from this global pandemic.

It will enable us to continue to support the New You Food club, which delivers many food parcels to those most in need in the local area on a weekly basis.

It will also support the re-emergence of the popular community cafe as soon as restrictions allow, offering affordable meals to the local community. This valuable assistance has been vital to help the Centre to continue to serve the community.”

Dale Tomlinson, Community Services Director said, “Caritas Care is committed to providing chances, choices and opportunities for everyone we work with.  We wouldn’t be able to do this without the generosity of donors such as The Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund.

Now more than ever, we need to be there for people in our community and even more so once we emerge from this pandemic. Being that lifeline for people whether that be via our Food Bank or through the range of activities we provide at the centre, is what we are here for.”

If you would like to find out more about the range of events and activities that Plungington Community offers, visit www.caritascare.org.uk