Aim

To continue to run our food and wellbeing project to meet increasing demand from people impacted by the cost of living crisis.

Wimborne Community Food & Wellbeing Hub

At our Wimborne Community Centre, we offer a welcoming space where people of all ages can access food support, social connection and essential services.  

Supporting Our Community Through the Cost of Living Crisis

The Wimborne Community Food and Wellbeing Hub is a lifeline for local people facing rising food, energy, and household costs. As part of Dorset Community Action’s mission to bring people together and strengthen communities, our hub provides practical support, connection, and hope for those who need it most.

We are now crowdfunding to keep this vital project running and we need your help.

About the Community Fridge

In 2023, we launched a pilot community fridge to respond to rising food poverty. The need has grown rapidly.

We collect surplus food four times a week from Tesco and Aldi.

When there is excess food, our volunteers cook healthy meals for local people.

We provide a warm, friendly space where people can access food, learn new skills, and connect with others.

Demand has nearly doubled in the last year. In April 2025, an average of 98 people used the hub each week. By March 2026, this had risen to 187.

Sarah’s Story

Sarah moved to Wimborne two years ago and struggled to settle due to financial pressures while waiting for her pension. She discovered our hub through a poster in town. Here, she found food support, friendship, and guidance — including signposting to First Point for housing advice. She describes the hub as a lifeline.

There are many more people like Sarah who need our help.

Why We Are Crowdfunding

We want to continue supporting between 180- 200 people per week with food, wellbeing activities, and practical skills that help them move from crisis to stability.

Your support will help us:

• Run the project for the next 12 months to meet growing community need.
• Support volunteers who collect essential supermarket surplus food.
• Buy extra ingredients to produce 40 hot meals each week.
• Deliver weekly community cooking workshops to build budgeting, cooking, and self‑sufficiency skills.
• Signpost people to vital services such as:
  First Point (housing)
  Citizens Advice (money management)
  Energy Outreach Project (household energy costs)
  
  

How Your Donation Helps

Your contribution will directly support the running of our hub:

£6,727 – staffing and running costs for the food and wellbeing project, including workshops

£2,825 – building rent, utilities, insurance, and kitchen/fridge running costs

£1,170 – volunteer travel expenses for food pick‑ups

£960 – extra food ingredients for hot meals

£72 – training for volunteers and staff

Every pound helps us keep the doors open and the community supported.

How You Can Get Involved

There are three simple ways to support our project:

• Make a Donation: Every pledge gets us closer to our goal. Early support helps build momentum and inspires others to give.
• Spread the Word: Share our crowdfunder with friends, family, neighbours, and your wider network. The more people we reach, the stronger our impact.
• Volunteer With Us: We’d love to hear from you if you’d like to get involved. You might help with food pick‑ups, cooking, or sharing skills in our workshops. Please get in touch through the contact section on our project page.

Thank You

Every donation, share, and volunteer hour helps ensure more people in need can access affordable food, build confidence, and develop the practical skills to move from crisis to financial self‑sufficiency.

Together, we can keep our community strong, connected, and supported.

(Image show our fridge and dry foods area being cleared within hours of our volunteers loading up the shelves.)

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 21st September 2026 at 11:45am