Keen card players have given a winning hand to a Tavistock charity supporting people at Christmas who are in need, including struggling during the cost of living crisis.

TaviHelps, Tavistock’s Community Food CIC (community interest company), has been given a massive boost of over £700 to its Christmas Treats project.

For the past five years, TaviHelps has delivered 200 Christmas treats to people in their homes in and around Tavistock who will benefit most.

Bridge Players from all Tavistock clubs supported Tavistock Millennium Bridge Club’s (TMBC) recent charity team tournament at Lamerton Community Centre. The proceeds of the event, directed by Randall Williams, were dedicated to Christmas treats.

TaviHelps director Graham Parker presented prizes to tournament winners Simon Bridgewater, Anne-Marie Bailey, Robin Burfield and Joe Pitt. He made the presentation fresh from a performance of Tavistock Edge’s dramatisation of the historic ‘Superintendent’s Letters’ at Tavistock Guildhall (part of Tavistock Heritage Open Days), and still dressed in character as a Victorian Army Major (Queen Victoria’s Inspector of Explosives).

TMBC’s chair Joe Pitt said: “When we heard of the brilliant work that TaviHelps does, taking Christmas into people’s homes, we were delighted to offer our support. We had a fantastic amount of fun playing whilst raising money - a real bonus.”

Graham said: “Thanks to Tavistock Millennium Bridge Club for this superb donation. It will go a long way towards our target of bringing festive joy to 200 people.

“Each year, dozens of volunteers for TaviHelps pitch in for the Christmas Treats appeal, raising money, finding and donating presents, buying and cooking food, wrapping and delivering treats in Tavistock and surrounding area. It’s a great example of how the wonderful people of Tavistock pull together to help their neighbours in difficult times.”

TaviHelps has two aims, to provide food for people and families who are in need and to reduce food waste.

It has four projects (including year-round provision of affordable food): Tavistock Food Store (weekly on Saturdays 11am-11.45am) at the Molly Owen Centre on Westbridge Industrial Estate; Horrabridge Food Hub (every Wednesday 2pm-3pm) at the Horrabridge Youth Club, Fillace Lane, Horrabridge; Christmas Day lunch at the United Reformed Church, Russell Street, Tavistock, and Christmas Treats, sent out to people on Christmas Eve.

For further information and possibly to volunteer and otherwise support, contact Graham Parker, TaviHelps on mobile 07545 075942 or email [email protected]

TMBC is a friendly, sociable bridge club that welcomes new members. Its core activity is a session of duplicate pairs bridge played every Thursday evening in the basement hall of the United Reformed Church (URC), Russell Street, Tavistock. Anyone wanting to join in can contact Joe Pitt on 07861 638629.

Within Tavistock there are other Duplicate Bridge Clubs playing Monday evening at Tavistock Golf Club, Wednesday evenings at the URC hall, Thursday morning and Friday afternoon at Tavistock Community Football Club. If interested in any of these again contact Joe who will be able to help you.