A COMMUNITY project in Hatherleigh growing fresh home-grown produce has received a major boost to its funds, thanks to a national grant scheme.

The Made-Well project has been awarded the £197,500 grant from Local Food, a £57.5-million funding programme supported by the Big Lottery Fund which supports food-related community projects across the country. The fund is managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts.

The Made-Well project runs a community food growing project which provides training, support and employment opportunities for disadvantaged or marginalised members of society. The project aims to encourage participation by people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.

Before Christmas, the Times reported the project had been granted planning permission significantly to enhance its site at West Fishleigh Farm. The grant money will help pay for these improvements.

The improvements will include converting a redundant barn into a training centre, building an animal barn, and converting an old agricultural building into a shop and café, selling the produce grown on site.

Project leader Joanna Winterburn said: 'This grant is absolutely wonderful news for the project. It will pay for around 80% of the capital works involved, and will make such a difference to the project.

'The Made-Well project provides an ideal opportunity for local people and those who are in need, to learning and life skills to participate in activities which are stimulating and enbale them to gain experience and achieve qualifications that will help them to progress.

'The funding from Local Food will help us turn our dreams into reality and build a worthwhile and sustainable project for their futures.'

Groundworks on the project began this week and it is hoped the majority of work will be completed in time for the sowing period in the spring.