Ferndown Community Support feat Ferndown Community Larder and bank

15/06/2026

03/06/2026

It was a privilege and pleasure for Hannah to speak at the Lord Lieutenant's 'Recognising Dorset' event yesterday, sharing our unique story and mission as a Kings Award for Voluntary Services recipient, along with as well as hearing from other Kings Award for Enterprise award winners through the years, such as (who kindly hosted the event) , and @ . Thank you to the Lord Lieutenant's office, The Lord Lieutenant and deputies, and all who attended.

01/06/2026

What better on a rainy summers eve than a beef casserole to warm the tummy?!

Some of our clients will be tucking into this freshly cooked beef and vegetable casserole this evening, having a well balanced and nutritious meal, that also doesn't require a costly oven cook, is vitally important for health and wellbeing, particularly if you have hit poverty and hard times, or are struggling with mental or physical health.

We cook meals, soups, pasta sauces, desserts and snacks, using fresh and whole ingredients, all the time at Ferndown Community Support, and our clients at the Food Bank can choose from a selection during their visit to us.

We couldn't do this without the generosity and kindness of our donors, supporters and volunteers, so thank you so much to each and every one of you who donates, spreads the word, comes to events, and volunteers with us, you all make a difference to our community.

26/05/2026

It's half term, which means one thing at FCS - Kids in the Kitchen!

Formerly Cooking Club, Kids in the Kitchen is the perfect opportunity to get creative, get skilled and tickle those young taste buds! Come and cook with us this half term (we have air con in our kitchen too!!):

Ideal for families over 4yrs old, our Kids in the Kitchen sessions make and sample delicious food in the Larder & Food Bank+ in Ferndown. Its a great place for all ages to learn and practice new skills and new foods. You will make a snack lunch meal and dessert/bakery, with a chance to sample and take away your makes!

All FREE thanks to some generous funding and lovely volunteers, so perfect for those on a budget too. Book via our website - can't wait to see you!

Too little for cooking? We also have a forthcoming 'Baby's First Foods' course, starting 2nd June, and we'd love you to join us if you'd like to find out more about the first steps on your little one's journey to solid food, and meet other parents and carers going through the journey too. Please go to our website for more info and to book.

www.ferndowncommunitysupport.org.uk

22/05/2026

👶Introducing Babies to First Foods - a NEW, FREE course for parents 🥦

Are you and your baby looking forward to trying their first foods? This course will support you both on this exciting journey! FREE to book, and developed by FCS with guidance and support from partner agencies. For more information and to book, please follow this link:

https://ferndowncommunitysupport.org.uk/introducing-babies-to-first-foods-a-free-3-session-course/

If your baby is aged 6-7months, and is ready to start enjoying their first foods, then our 3-session course will support you through this exciting time!

We know it can sometimes feel overwhelming, or hard to find the most up to date information when you're a busy parent or carer. Each session will focus on developing confidence, knowledge, and skills to support your family as babies move towards enjoying foods. Based on the latest knowledge and expertise, the course will be delivered by FCS cooking leads, as well as a guest speaker.

This 3-session course will run on Tuesday 2nd, 9th and 16th June 2026, from 9.45-11am, and your booking covers all 3 sessions. You will get the most from the sessions if you can attend all 3.

The course is free for parents, carers and your baby, and session sizes kept small to allow lots of interaction and time to talk and keep baby happy. You'll get a booklet at each session; complete the course and you and your baby will get a little token of thanks for coming along!

If your baby isn't at the right stage yet, please don't worry, we're planning to run further courses. If you'd like to be kept updated please follow us on Eventbrite or contact us to find out when the next course is running.

For more information or to discuss any queries, please feel free to contact us

19/05/2026

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY - coffee and chat with a resident

Connecting with the community you have lived, raised a family in, and worked in is incredibly important whatever age we are. It keeps us young, healthy, engaged and feeling supported, but if you are struggling to get out and about, and stay connected with the wider community, whether though age, disability, care responsibilities or ill health, these opportunities can become very limited, when we feel perhaps at our most vulnerable.

We are currently looking for a volunteer who would enjoy a coffee and catch up with an older female, regularity to be set by you and her to suit both. Can you help bring a smile and comfort to one of our residents?

How will we support you as a volunteer?

You'll be covered under our safeguarding policy and insurance, and will have the opportunity to undertake training as needed too. We'll need to make sure you have a DBS in place for this opportunity, which of course we will fund if required. You'll also join a wider team of dedicated and supportive volunteers, with plenty of opportunities to get involved in other activities if you wish. Volunteer managers will ensure that if you want to debrief, or have any questions or queries or ideas, you will be able to do so and are indeed encouraged to do so.

04/05/2026

Well this looks better!

Thank you so much to for the grant, and to you, our supporters, for the match funding in donations to enable us to buy a proper fruit and veg rack system 🥰 this will make such a difference to display, organisation, storage and rotation.

Thank you to everyone who supports our mission to deliver free food and essentials to those most in need and vulnerable in our community.

Would you like to support us or find out more? Why not pop in, go online, give us a call, or email, to find out more about volunteering opportunities, donation and sponsorship needs, and our support and activities within the community. We'll also be in Sainsbury's tomorrow, so do come and say hi if your around!

31/03/2026

Our Cooking Clubs return for an Easter Eggstravaganza!! Do join us for some egg-citing cookery and food, it will be eggs-traordinary fun!

Ideal for families with young people over 4yrs old, our Cooking Club makes and sample delicious food in the Larder & Food Bank+ in Ferndown. Its a great place for all ages to learn and practice new skills and new foods. You will make a snack lunch meal and dessert/bakery, with a chance to sample and take away your makes!

Cookery Club is incredibly popular, so do book via Eventbrite (link below) ASAP to secure your space. All FREE thanks to some generous funding and lovely volunteers, so perfect for those on a budget too.

A couple of house rules! Young people must attend with an appropriate parent/carer, unfortunately we cannot support young people without a carer unfortunately. Please book children's spaces only, there is no need to book accompanying adults. Please let us know any allergies and additional needs in advance via the sign up form, so we can best cater for these. All equipment and food is provided for you, but please bring something to take home your creations in!

Cant wait to see you, we're egg-cited!

It will be an egg-cellent Easter at the FCS Cooking Club! Do join us for some egg-citing cookery and food, it will be eggs-traordinary fun!

10/12/2025

We cant wait to be a part of this, and are so very grateful to all at Ringwood and District Round Table. Come and see Santa tomorrow everyone!

As we take a few days to recharge our batteries (quite literally), Father Christmas & the team at Ringwood & District Round Table would like to say a massive thank-you to our wonderful friends at Hunt Forest Group for again lending us “Rudolph” the tow vehicle for our time with Santa. Without their kind help we’d quite literally be going nowhere (As the actual reindeer are still at the North Pole getting ready for Christmas Eve)! 🦌

We can’t wait to see everyone is Verwood, Burley, Bransgore, Trickett’s Cross, Ferndown & Ringwood next week, when we’ll be spreading some more festive cheer & raising money for Helix Day Service, New Forest Young Carers Service, Ferndown Community Support feat Ferndown Community Larder and bank & Helping Older People New Forest while also collecting your kind FoodBank donations for Hope for Food! ❤️

If you aren’t going to be able to come to see Santa, but would still like to lend a hand, you can still donate online by visiting https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/donation/santas-sleigh-2025 🎅

25/11/2025

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