B&Q Ashford

The trusts vision is: putting the heart in communities Mission: creating and providing excellent resources and opportunities, empowering people to connect, build community. Objectives: People find a place to belong and contribute. People are better able to manage their health and well-being. People have a better quality of life and aspirations for the future.

We are a one form entry school located in Dymchurch, Kent. We have approximately 179 children in the school. Since July 2020 we have been lucky enough to have had a wide range of food donated to us by M & S in Ashford. During breakfast club, after school club, and at snack times throughout the day, the children have been able to try a wide range of lovely fresh foods, pastries, fruit and vegetables, drinks, smoothies and soups that they have not experienced before, from around the world. We have also been fortunate enough to have received some beautiful flowers which we use to decorate our reception area and brighten up classroom areas around the school, bringing much joy to our staff. Take a look at our gallery page to see a small sample of how we use the food we have been donated by M & S. During the lockdown, when we only had key worker children in school, I would use the donations to make and deliver food parcels to our more vulnerable families to provide them with a bit more support during this difficult time, as well as feeding the children in school. Now that we have all returned to school, the food parcels are still continuing for a few of our families but the majority of food is used in school. Prior to this Aldi's in Hythe had also been kindly donating a range of fruit and vegetables and pastries so that we could provide opportunities for our children to learn vital cooking skills. We also used their food donations in our breakfast club and after school club - allowing children to experience cooking using a range of fruit and vegetables that they had not eaten before. I would like to say a big THANK-YOU on behalf of all the staff and children at Dymchurch Primary to both Neighbourly and M & S. You don't realise the huge impact you have had on our pupils and some of our more vulnerable families so far.

The Bloomers Trust has been set up to show love and compassion through the giving of essential, practical gifts which are not provided by other sources. The Bloomers Trust supplies, wherever possible, items requested by Caseworkers for vulnerable women and babies whom they are supporting. This includes: Push chairs, Moses Baskets, High chairs, Cots etc. These items will be second hand goods of the highest quality. This will also include items purchased new which are considered as essentials for nursing mums including: breast pads, maternity clothing & toiletries.