VULNERABLE people in Ludlow will be able to turn to a voluntary group for help when the statutory bodies fall short.

Hands Together says that its role is to help to fill the gaps when people in need find that they have been let down by other agencies.

As part of a new initiative being led by Hands Together, the Ludlow Food Festival is looking to set up a charitable trust.

This will enable some of the funds generated at the three day festival of all that is best in food and drink to be used to help vulnerable members of the community.

A working group is looking at how this might work most effectively.

Hands Together LUDLOW aims to connect our community by working together with a range of existing groups to ensure that the vulnerable can get help and assistance when they need it.

It was created in response to a report entitled “Ludlow under Pressure” commissioned by Churches Together around Ludlow. A number of areas of need were highlighted, largely brought about by decreasing funding of statutory agencies.

But Sarah Kellett, administrator for Hands Together said that although the group came out of Churches Together around Ludlow it is not a religious based organisation.

“People involved in our group and those that we help need to have no interest of involvement in religion,” said Sarah Kellett.

“We want anyone who is in need of help to feel able to contact us.”

As a result the charity now has three primary methods of working: networking with existing agencies and charities, recruiting volunteers from the local community, and establishing a number of projects to address specific problems such as healthy eating, loneliness and dementia and the use of technology.

Since gaining independent charitable status earlier in the year, Hands Together LUDLOW is becoming well established with support from local businesses, caring organisations, churches and concerned individuals.

It is working with businesses and organisations to show how food that otherwise might be discarded and allowed to go to waste can be used to provide nutritious means.

“The idea is to provide a point where people can come to signpost them to the most appropriate help that is available,” added Sarah Kellett.

“It is important that we do not try to duplicate other activities that are going on or to attempt to replace the work that should be done by the statutory bodies.

“Our role is to provide short term support to fill in the gaps and help those that fall through the cracks between what the other agencies are providing.”

One of the areas where Hands Together is already providing support is providing a one stop shop to people suffering from dementia.

This is one of the issues that has been identified as a particular problem in Ludlow and the surrounding area where there is a higher proportion of older people.

A number of other areas where it is considered that particular help is needed include housing, transport and technology.