Caring Hands in the Vale
Caring Hands in the Vale received a grant from the first round of WCF’s Strengthening Worcestershire Fund run in partnership with Worcestershire County Council in 2024.
The charity’s food bank is based at the Lighthouse in Evesham. It operates five days a week on a referral basis from a network of over 130 partner agencies. They also host a drop-in diner three days’ a week, offering a free two-course meal plus additional fresh produce from their community pantry. It is accessed by individuals in need of a meal due to financial struggles, homelessness or lack of cooking facilities. It also provides a safe, warm space where those who are lonely and isolated find support, company and friendship.
With their grant, Caring Hands purchased food items for those in receipt of food parcels and food for the drop-in diner. This enabled them to supplement food donations received from members of the public, businesses and supermarkets. They report that during the funding period fifty volunteers provided a staggering 3,650 volunteer hours between them!
Diane Bennett, Community Outreach Manager said:
“Thank you so much for your support for our projects. We are particularly grateful for your help in updating our safeguarding policy, which was really helpful.”
WCF trustee, Nick Wentworth-Stanley visited the charity in September 2025 and described them as having an
“Exceptional range of services to the community.”
The help Caring Hands provides directly impacts people’s lives. One person regularly used the Lighthouse for showers, laundry and phone charging, as well as the drop-in diner and food bank. Acting as a care address, their housing outreach team helped them open a bank account, apply for Universal Credit and attend Job Centre appointments. A good relationship was formed and the individual still often drops by to visit. An email from another person helped said:
“ I wanted to reach out to first let you know that I am safe and truly grateful for all the help and support you gave me during my time in Evesham. You were the only reason I was able to leave that unsafe situation and I honestly can’t put into words how thankful I am for your kindness and care.”
WCF distributed £187,000, from the Strengthening Worcestershire Fund first round, supporting 31 different projects. These met a community need for cost of living, ageing well, tackling loneliness and social isolation, providing information and advice and supporting unpaid carers. We are delighted to see how the grants benefited each of the groups awarded and, through their work, continue to enable them to positively impact Worcestershire people.
See more information on the Strengthening Worcestershire Fund and our other grant programmes here.
For further information on WCF, to talk to us about making a donation, setting up a fund or supporting local communities, please contact Director Lucy Wells at [email protected] / 07909 111812.
For information on grants available locally and nationally, please visit the county council grants database: Home | Worcestershire County Council’s Funding Finder.
