A Portslade charity has won multiple awards and been granted thousands in cash to help improve and feed people who are the most in need.

Around 40 people use The Purple People Kitchen at Portslade Town Hall for their basic weekly needs even though the UK economy is in recovery.

The charity was set up a year ago by Councillor Penny Gilbey after she found out a young mum had to walk to Brighton from Portslade to get a handout for her family.

Approximately ten people volunteer each week at the kitchen and despite some logistical difficulties the charity continues to go from strength to strength.

Jacqui O’Rourke, 54, chairwoman of The Purple People Kitchen said: “It’s good because people get to have a sit down and with many living on their own they get the chance to talk to people.

“There is a real sense of community, only today we received 100 bags of supplies from St Nicholas' Primary School which was great.”

The community-based kitchen is awash with awards and recently won a community award and £1,500 to set up a garden with the intention of growing their own vegetables.

Ann Menhinick, 66, volunteer and an enthusiastic baker has just won an older persons award for her contribution to the kitchen in Portslade.

Mrs Menhinick said: “Most people who come here are desperately in need of food but despite the increase in numbers we go from strength to strength.

“It started from about 15 people a week and now we are getting around 50.”

Also recently awarded £2,000 from BP vouchers collected in The Argus, the charity now has new equipment so it can offer people the chance to take some vital hot food home.

The Portslade Community Forum helped fund the first year of the project along with a grant from the NHS Healthy Neighbourhood project.

Coun Gilbey, who is also chair of the Portslade Community Forum said: “They are a wonderful group full of innovative ideas and are always looking out and applying for this and that.

“Ann has been the back bone of the project and I am really lucky to work with such wonderful group of people.”