A TEAM at a popular community hub are celebrating after being given nearly £10,000 of funding by the National Lottery.

Volunteers from The Morland Hall in Highbridge have received a 9,900 grant from the National Lottery which will help to fund a number of projects including a new climate change resilience programme.

Roger Keen, volunteer co-ordinator at the Morland Hall, said he is thrilled that the hub has received the funding and he is looking forward to getting new projects up and running.

He said: "In these worrying times for everyone at the moment, it's great to have some positive news to announce.

"We want to develop our constructive, empowering work with the local community to expand our range of responsive activities and services to all ages and link it proactively to resilience and climate change impacts.

"Our area has become a target for county lines activity and all ages are at risk.

"We work proactively with the local foodbank by offering additional food for families, cooking classes on a budget and affordable meals for vulnerable families on a regular basis."

Roger said volunteers at the hub aim to support 'empowering activities, facilities and longer-term prevention plans for working with the community' and he hopes the funding will help to develop what the hub can offer to the community.

"We have a team of volunteers leading sessions including craft sessions, knit and natter, social meet ups which reduce isolation and support with community events and activities.

"We went to develop a climate change resilience programme to increase support for families of our town.

"We will appoint a community project manager and volunteer co-ordinator to launch a programme, train volunteers, publicise it, support expressions of sustainable interest including learning about food, becoming more physically active and learning about nature and conservation and recycling."

Roger said community hubs are becoming 'increasingly vital' for communities and praised volunteers at the hub for their ongoing support.

"I would like to say a big thank you to Mandy Porter, our project development manager Jane Macpherson and to all the volunteers who work hard to make these things possible at the hub," roger said.

"We want to support our community to learn skills to take care of our valuable nature and green spaces and help families to take pride in their own immediate environments."