Extra support for families facing the cost-of-living crisis can now be offered by Lampeter Family Centre, thanks to the Our Communities Together campaign.

Earlier this year Newsquest, which publishes the Western Telegraph, the Tivyside Advertiser and the South Wales Guardian newspapers, launched a Our Communities Together Campaign in partnership with the Community Foundation Wales.

We asked readers, businesses and organisations to donate to a fund that would award grants to grassroots charities across Wales supporting the most vulnerable in their communities through the cost of living crisis. More than £1 million has been given out in grants to groups right across the country.

Lampeter Family Centre, a free-of-charge service, situated in the heart of the town, has received £4,950 from the fund which enables it to reach out to more families in Lampeter and the surrounding villages.

“The money has made a big impact on a small centre like ours,” said its co-ordinator, Jen Leigh.

“It’s not just a case of helping families know more about making nourishing and budget-friendly food.

“It’s the social aspect of getting families together round the meal table and also reducing stress in households because there’s the guarantee of a hot meal.”

A weekly lunch club and cooking session has just got underway and has welcomed around eight families and up to 15 children on each occasion.

They grown-ups have enjoyed cooking up such treats as jacket potatoes with various toppings, pasta bake and vegetable soup, with the youngsters loving sampling the results.

Jen added: “During these sessions we also discuss effective ways to budget by visiting a value supermarket, choosing less branded options, cooking in batches and using leftovers.“

The centre is also providing monthly recipe food packs to be taken home with easy-to-follow recipes so that families can cook and enjoy together.

Peppers stuffed with rice, onions and cheese recently proved a big hit.

Recipes will range from lunch and dinner meals, snacks, pudding and treats, and there will also a weaning support recipe food pack given with advice from the Health Visitor. This will reduce costs in buying expensive jars of baby food.

Jen added: “Since last winter, we’ve really noticed an increase in people requesting food bank vouchers, and this is why we’re running these sessions.

“There are also a lot of people who are too proud to come asking for assistance, so we hope by doing this we’re helping families out without them feeling any stigma.”

The centre, which has been in existence for 20 years, will also be running budgeting sessions.

Jen explained: “We will give one-to-one help, looking at families’ monthly outgoings and finding ways to save on costs. We will also invite in local agencies to support this.”

Also on offer will be IT sessions, giving basic support for families to enable them to access online assistance. This could be conversing with Universal Credit, applying for a grant, getting help with free school meals, sorting out debts, paying bills.

The centre offers access to laptops and tablets and the use of wi-fi, and once again, there will be help from local agencies.

Lampeter Family Centre provides a warm and friendly setting and activities for families with young children up to five years.

For more information, call 07538 171721 or email lampeterfamilycentre@gmail.com