YMCA Dulverton Group has repurposed some services in Somerset to support the community at this time; with The Beach Hotel in Minehead, Great Western Hotel in Taunton and catering team all adapting to fit different community needs.

The Beach Hotel in Minehead has become a temporary home to vulnerable people from the area who were homeless. The hotel is currently accommodating 24 individuals, providing a safe and secure place to self-isolate.

Residents staying at the Beach Hotel and across YMCA accommodation are being given three meals a day, prepared and distributed by the YMCA Catering team, who have adapted the on-site kitchen and facilities at Yew Trees Nursery in Axbridge.

Leading the YMCA Catering team are Chefs Amira Sleigh and Angus Martin who have over forty years combined experience in the catering industry; both joining YMCA Dulverton Group in 2019 managing Early Years and Hospitality Catering respectively.

Angus Martin whose vast experience includes Head Chef as Fortnum and Mason Piccadilly explained: “We are fortunate to have at the YMCA a team of Chefs who have stepped up to the mark when asked and have bonded and formed a strong brigade. I am so proud of them all and going forward we know we can achieve anything, however big the obstacle.”

The catering team have been working to provide healthy and nutritious meals each day to over 300 families and young people. The team have quickly adapted to prepare and pack meals which are then delivered to residents across Somerset, encouraging them to stay at in and not leave their accommodation.

Amira Sleigh has been working across the South West in Early Years Catering for nearly four years and said: “I am happy and excited that I get to go into work every day and cater for all the people, it has really given me a sense of purpose during these times.”

The team have had to become more flexible in order to produce the large quantities of servings for every person in YMCA accommodation. They have been preparing 450 meals a day, using food donations from a variety of organisations such as Landaid, Yeo Valley and Holdsworth Foods amongst many others.

Food donations have been delivered to the Great Western Hotel in Taunton, where the team have also been accommodating key workers to give them safe space to isolate away from their loved ones whilst they continue their frontline work.

The Hospitality and Catering teams have in recent weeks modified their roles to offer a service which reflects the current community need and will continue to provide vital support to those most vulnerable throughout this time.

Anyone within the local community who would like to help YMCA Dulverton Group should get in touch by emailing: info@ymca-dg.org

For more information, please speak to Lauren Easterbrook, on email Lauren.Easterbrook@ymca-dg.org or by phone 07394568321

For any more information about YMCA Dulverton, please visit www.ymca-dg.org