Inside Britain's 'safest' food bank - spreading the spirit of kindness to struggling families; PACT House is run by volunteers and supports Stanley residents who need help - whether it is a free meal, shelter, clothing or Christmas presents.
Byline: Kali Lindsay
It has the safest food bank in Britain.
Although this former bank onStanley's Front Street may no longer cough up cash to residents, it still plays a vital role in the community.
The building is now home to PACT House, which offers a food bank, cafe, access to training and IT equipment, hygiene products and will soon launch a recording studio and community radio.
Dozens of residents gather in the cafe area on a Wednesday for a community meal, where you are asked to donate what you can to be served dinner by a team of volunteers.
It is part of the ethos of the project, which aims to help anyone in need, whether it is the victims of domestic violence, people searching for jobs, or families who are struggling financially and need help with food, clothing - or evenChristmaspresents.
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The building is packed with donations from kind-hearted residents and businesses who recognise the important role it plays in the community.
Darren McMahon, who is trustee at the group, said: "PACT House is a community house that supports the entire community.
"It does not have a clear remit - it tends to support people with whatever they need, which at the minute is often around Universal Credit, poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, mental health.
"People who have dropped through a lot of the statutory services and find themselves stuck come to us, when everyone else has turned us away."
"Within the community it gives a massive volunteer vehicle a lot of our users come to access the services and but then stay and pass on that knowledge they have gained, making other members of the community feel comfortable because they are dealing with members of the community, not professionals, people who understand their needs from a very base level rather than an educated level, which makes a massive difference."
The cafe environment makes it welcoming to everyone, Darren said.
"It is very much like any cafe, you can walk in, start talking about your problems and someone will talk to you, someone will speak to you, someone will say hello, someone will smile, someone will give you a bit warmth and friendliness, which is often cold in other places you go to," he said.
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"If you are struggling for food, the group offers food parcels without referral from another agency."
One person who has benefited from...
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