4 May 2020

YMCA Dulverton Group has repurposed social enterprises in Somerset to support the community at this time; with The Beach Hotel in Minehead, Great Western Hotel in Taunton and YMCA 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 26 individuals, providing a safe and secure place to self-isolate.

Residents staying at the Beach Hotel and across YMCA accommodation are receiving three meals a day, prepared and distributed by the YMCA Catering team. Working from the Beach Hotel kitchen as well as the facilities at Yew Trees Nursery in Axbridge, also part of YMCA Dulverton Group, the team have been delivering food across Somerset.

Beach Hotel Head Chef Angus Martin has been leading the Catering team alongside YMCA Early Years Catering Manager Amira Sleigh and 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 450 healthy and nutritious meals each day to over 300 families and young people using food donations for 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.

Operations Manager for Hotels Cara Strom said: “I am really proud of how the whole team has adapted to the current situation and so pleased we are able to make a difference in the community.”

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