Fontmell Magna’s village hall is a hub for the community, providing a lifeline for anyone needing warmth, company and advice.

Fontmell community support hub takes place every Wednesday (except 15 February) until 5 April in the village hall from 12pm. Community lunches are served at 12.30pm with hot drinks and cakes available all afternoon. Children’s tea is served from 4pm, and there are activities to entertain little ones after school while parents and carers relax with a hot drink. All are welcome from the Fontmell Magna Parish and the Iwerne Valley Benefice plus all parents and children from St Andrews School, Fontmell Magna.

Advisers and support workers from local charities are on hand from 1.20-3.30pm to help with the impact of the rising cost of living on individuals and families, so if you need to speak with someone in confidence do pop in. On 8 February Dorset councillor Jane Somper will be at the hall all day, and Steve from Citizens Advice will be on hand from 3pm. Revd David John will be helping in the kitchen cooking lunch. On 22 February from 1:30-3:30pm, the community hub is hosting the Blackmore Vale Partnership Health and Well-being team, who will be demonstrating how to access and use online triage software Klinik. Food bank boxes are available on request too.

Organisers say the hub is a community lifeline: “The lunches and pop-up cafes we ran at the hall last year were a great way of getting together and meeting people, especially on these cold, wet days. Everyone is welcome – come along and enjoy lunch, a cuppa and cake, a chat over board games. Our advisers can help with problems you might be having and everything discussed with them is in complete confidence. The community hub offers free wi-fi, free chat, free smiles, free friendship and companionship.”

For more information or to volunteer, contact: Lisa Le Druillenec, secretary.fmvh@mail.com or 07962 138039; Rosie-Anne Yates, 07710 326339; Siân Highnam, bookings.fmvh@mail.com or 07774 647060. For more information about food bank boxes please email susanannekeen@gmail.com.