A Glastonbury-based social enterprise has received a grant of more than £3,000 from the Somerset Coronavirus Appeal so it can provide hot meals for vulnerable people during the crisis.

Feed Avalon runs a range of projects that help give fair access to nutritious and sustainable food, including cooking courses in their community kitchen and garden.

The Somerset Coronavirus Appeal grant of £3,295 has helped them to adapt their work, providing meals to people in need in the Mendip area.

Julia Bedford, project co-ordinator, explained how they are helping vulnerable local people, especially those in the travelling community.

"The coronavirus outbreak has illustrated the need for everyone to look within our communities and support those closest to us," she said.

"Feed Avalon is now entirely focused on supporting our local communities, particularly those who are living in caravans, tents, or in their cars, and who do not have the ability or cannot afford to cook for themselves.

"Many people have lost valuable lifelines in the form of food donations now that many businesses have had to cease operations.

"If we weren't here to offer this support, there would be many more people struggling to access nutritious meals.

"Many people in this community are on the fringes of society, already isolated and struggling with their mental health, and added to that they are now no longer able to access the community garden and kitchen, as a result of the lockdown.

"The difference that social interaction and nutritious food makes to an individual cannot be overstated.

"This grant means we can cook and deliver our home-grown meals to caravan sites in order to feed those most in need.

"Many have seen their other avenues of support disappear. These hot meals are making an enormous difference to their quality of life."

The Somerset Community Foundation set up the Somerset Coronavirus Appeal to raise funds for local charitable groups that are supporting the most vulnerable people affected by the outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19) and, looking ahead, to ensure that when the time is right it can help communities recover well.