A SUPPORT service in Shaftesbury has been offering bundles of food to those in need, aided by a chef who was brought back to her hometown in the wake of Covid-19.

The Shaftesbury Food Aid Support Service was launched at the end of April to help residents who had lost their income or needed a bit of help during the virus outbreak, by providing them with short-term food packages.

Set up by the Shaftesbury Community Support Group, in connection with the town council and partner organisations, international private chef and food writer Philippa Davis has been busy creating recipe ideas and cards for the scheme.

Before the global pandemic, Phillipa was travelling the world for her job, but on her return to Shaftesbury for lockdown she sought to help the community as a foodie volunteer.

She said: “There is something huge and special here in Shaftesbury about our need to help others.

“I started off volunteering, helping people with their shopping, and I told the council I would be delighted to help with more of a chef focus.”

Every bundle contains dry ingredients, recipe cards and vouchers, which can be exchanged for meat and dairy at Prime Cuts in Salisbury Street and fresh produce from Abbots in Bell Street.

Philippa said she started the recipes were “from scratch” inspired by “everyday ingredients, fun and creativity”.

She added: “I wanted to help people with their health and wellbeing with these recipes, so I was just thinking what do I need to include to give a healthy week’s worth of food which is enticing, nutritious, delicious and colourful.”

According to Phillipa around 60 per cent of the scheme-users utilise the recipe cards, and around 1,000 packages were dished out in the week of May 11.

She added: “I am incredibly proud to be somewhere like Shaftesbury, my first kitchen job was here. Before this pandemic we never really had to deal with local councils before but ours has just been amazing.

"I am so impressed and grateful [the council] got this project up and running.”

The Shaftesbury Community Support Group was awarded a grant of £3,000 by the Dorset Community Foundation (DCF), which helped this initiative become a reality.

Phillipa was a contributor in the book Deepest Dorset, with proceeds donated to DCF, so she feels she has come “full circle”.

“I’m so lucky to be a part of this county, it deserves to be celebrated,” she added.

The scheme operates every Thursday from 10am until 12noon in Father’s House, for more information visit the Food Aid Support Service Facebook page.