BOVEY Tracey’s Affordable Food Hub is settling in nicely in its new premises.

Set up five months ago it had been running in the town’s Scout hut, but is now firmly established in the Bovey Methodist church hall in Le Molay-Littry Way.

Stella West-Harling, of the food hub (AFH) said: ‘It grew out of the Bovey Community Kitchen in Fore Street. When we were forced to close due to the first Covid lockdown I made those premises into the first food bank for Bovey.

‘Then five months ago we changed to the AFH, part of the Feeding Devon initiative.’

The Feeding Devon partnership comprises more than 30 organisations and is a network of community fridges, churches and local voluntary groups, which can distribute seasonal fruit and veg along the A38 corridor. The partnership is planning to expand into other Devon sites including Buckfastleigh.

The AFH now offers fresh produce to our members, and people can select veg and fruit up to 10kg for a £5 donation.’

While there members can enjoy a cup of tea and slice of cake or a nutritious warming vegetable soup or stew.

It’s prepared by Peter Little, who has run the Exeter Catering College in the past, and last week some 50 people were able to enjoy his food.

Stella said: ‘Being part of the Feeding Devon initiative we are able to buy our food at very low prices from places such as Riverford, Fare share and HiS Church. It’s all very fresh with a good use by date, and we package it up. Members can simply come in and chose what they want and what they need.’

It seems everyone is feeling the effects of the cost of living crisis. 

Stella said: ‘We have people of all ages rlying on us, not just pensioners. There are young families and even some working people are needing to come in.’

The Affordable Food Hub is open on Tuesday, 11.30am-12.30pm. Membership is free.