IT may have moved location, but volunteers at Christchurch Soup Kitchen say nothing has changed about the support they give vulnerable members of the community.

After finding a new base for the service, the dedicated team have continued their aim of providing a social environment above and beyond the traditional image of a soup kitchen.

The operation had been running as part of the Triple F project in the building at the Pit Site car park in the town centre.

However, Triple F organisers closed the building's doors in early March leaving the soup kitchen in search of a new home.

Volunteers decided to make the short move to Saxon Square car park to remain in the town centre and said similar numbers are coming on a regular basis to access the help.

Alongside providing meals, organiser Zoe Haine said service users can access clothing, bedding and other essentials, but she said the opportunity to see a familiar face and enjoy a conversation proves to be just as important.

"They are not just coming down for food," she said.

"We provide connections for them, which is so valuable. One person who comes to us has a roof over his head now but he will come down whatever the weather to come and chat with people.

"It is more than just a hot meal and a drink, which I think people on the outside don't realise."

The soup kitchen team is made up of 15 volunteers from a wide-ranging background including a previous user of the service, who was rough sleeping at the time.

Between them they provide the service five times a week - Monday to Thursday and on Saturday - for members of the community who need a helping hand.

Zoe added: "We just love what we do. I'm not sure who gets more out of it, us as the volunteers or the people who use the service.

"For some of the team the move was easy to cope with because it is back to how we first started, but for others it has been a huge change and taken a bit of getting used to.

"Going forward we would like to have our own little space, but it will take time."