DARTMOUTH Community Chest has received a £500 community grant from DCH.

The funding will be used to help pay for its van, which allows volunteers to continue to collect and redistribute second hand furniture and white goods across Dartmouth and the surrounding villages.

The project is in its second year and so far it has helped 62 people, 49 of who were in social housing. Its aim is to help local families avoid high interest debt by providing essential items to them that have been donated in the town.

They also hope to reduce the amount of good quality items that are sent to landfill.

Charlotte Grosvenor, DCH community development worker, said: ‘We are really pleased that we were able to get involved and support this important local project.

‘Financial inclusion is one of our community investment priorities and by accessing this service a number of our customers have been able to avoid taking out high interest loans that can lead to spiralling debts.’

Dawn Shepherd, of Dartmouth Community Chest, said: ‘I’d like to thank DCH for the funding which will help our project expand further after a successful first year. The community van has helped us to reach more people and provide a better service to local families.

‘Good quality furniture that would have been sent to landfill has instead helped local families avoid high interest debt and rebuild their lives after traumatic events such as fires, relationship breakdowns and homelessness. We are committed to making out town and villages a fairer place for everyone.’

If you would like to know more about the project, would like to donate goods or would like to volunteer contact Dartmouth Community Chest by email [email protected] or visit the group's Facebook page.