MONEY given by local people as thanks for the help given in the past by staff of Crediton Hospital has helped a number of other people through difficult times this Christmas and into the new year.

The League of Friends of Crediton Hospital and its Community Patients has used part of its funds to make donations recently to Journey Counselling, Crediton Foodbank and Holy Trinity Church at Yeoford.

Journey Counselling and the Foodbank are both based in the Manse of Crediton Congregational Church. Journey is an independent charity that offers low cost counselling to people in Crediton and surrounding area.

A spokesperson said: “We are delighted that the Crediton Hospital League of Friends is kindly helping us by giving this donation which will help people who cannot pay our £10 donation to receive counselling.

“This money will pay for 200 sessions and so it is massively helpful especially at this very difficult time for people emotionally and financially with the impact of Covid-19 on their lives.”

She added that Journey offers more than 700 sessions a year which helps a large number of people. As it does not limit the number of sessions, it is hard to say how many it helps as some people have 12 sessions, some 36 or more.

It was set up in 2011 and offers counselling for people’s emotional, psychological and mental health issues, covering pretty much any issue for individuals from age 13 and up.

Crediton Foodbank Co-ordinator and Community Support Worker, Chris Parsons, said the donation would mean they could continue supporting the people who need it the most, many of whom are families with children.

Earlier in December Chris said that Covid-19 had taken its toll and the number of people using the Foodbank was once again rising.

By the second week in December one volunteer, Irene, had packed about 70 Christmas hampers brimming with Christmas goodies including crackers and Christmas cake.

Chris added: “Christmas is all about God’s love coming down that first Christmas in the form of Jesus. 

“It’s about caring, supporting, valuing people and giving hope.  At the Foodbank we hope and pray that people will be blessed by what we give out and are so grateful for the people in our community who support us.

“We especially want to thank the League of Friends of Crediton Hospital for their generous donation. The effects of Covid-19 are going to last well into 2021.

 “We will also be delivering some turkey crowns or chicken plus all the trimmings for Christmas dinner.

“Some of the money donated by the League of Friends of Crediton Hospital will go towards these Christmas dinners enabling us to make Christmas that extra bit special for those in our community who are struggling to make ends meet.”

At Yeoford, the small brick-built church in the centre of the village used to share toilets and kitchen facilities with the village hall across the road. That has been demolished with two houses there now and a new hall built a short distance away, leaving the church with no facilities.

Carol Price, Licensed Lay Minister of the little church, said that this was a particular problem for such as weddings, baptisms or funerals, especially when people had travelled some distance.

Planning permission has been given for a kitchen and disabled toilet with baby changing facilities. The church is near the end of getting a Faculty for the work from the Church of England, and hopefully funding from The Churches Trust if the church can match fund.

It has already raised around £10,000 through its own efforts during the past two years and the donation from the League of Friends of Crediton Hospital has topped that up to the required sum.

A Monday morning cafe was run until earlier this year. This will return as soon as it is allowed. The church also has a library and hopes to run a lunch club.

Anyone wishing to help the church can look at Go Fund Me and click on the Yeoford Church Kitchen and Toilet Fund or send a cheque to Carol Price at The Cleave, Woodland Head, Yeoford EX17 5HF, making a cheque out to Holy Trinity Church, Yeoford.