ST SWITHUN’S and St Clement’s churches have been awarded Government funding to continue supporting their communities through the coronavirus pandemic.

The Bournemouth churches will receive funding from a £4 million ringfenced grant as part of the Government’s Community Match Challenge.

St Swithun’s and St Clement’s are two of the 52 hubs in the Love Your Neighbour Network which will profit from the grant, which will supplement the churches’ £6 million pledged spending for the next six months.

Reverend Tim Matthews, St Swithun’s and St Clement’s, said: “The latest government funding greatly increases our ability to help those left most in need by the Covid-19 crisis.

“It is a huge encouragement to the army of volunteers who have mobilised to enact their faith in Christ by helping others in need.

“It also strengthens our local partnerships with other churches and charities, schools, the council, and businesses as we work together to transform Bournemouth’s society.”

At the start of the national lockdown, several churches across the Diocese of Winchester launched an emergency food and supplies bank to get essential provisions to those most in need as part of the “Love Your Neighbour” scheme.

As part of the scheme churches also ran volunteer help-force teams to keep in phone contact with isolated people, assist with emergency errands and provide practical support to local hospitals.

In Bournemouth, weekly family food parcels, including fresh fruit and vegetables have been distributed from the St Clement’s Church site, in partnership with a number of local churches of different denominations, local charities and the BCP Council.

Partners include Coastline Vineyard Church, Citygate Church, Lansdowne Church, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Safe Families, Safe and Sound, the BH1 Project, Grounded, the Community Fridge, Bournemouth and Christchurch Food Bank, BCP ASPIRE project and BCP Council.

All of which have helped supply the local community with over 82,000 meals since April.

St Swithun’s and St Clement’s will use the funding to deliver food and develop partnerships with schools and the BCP council, who have helped them identify families who are vulnerable and at risk of food poverty.

The Right Reverend Dr Tim Dakin, Bishop of Winchester, said: “In these difficult times I have been very pleased to see how our churches have come together to follow Jesus faithfully and show love for our neighbours.

“It is now more important than ever that we help the communities we serve, and I am grateful that parishes in the Diocese of Winchester can continue to do so through this funding.”