The Benita Project opens new South Molton base

The Benita Project has gone from strength to strength since launching in 2022. 

And now a new base on East Street in South Molton will help them provide even more services to the rural community.

On the surface, South Molton is a typical quaint Devon town, with its thriving market and array of independent shops and cafes. 

But statistics reveal that there is an underlying current of deprivation too, with below average levels of employment, income, and life expectancy for the region.

One project that aims to tackle these issues head-on is The Benita Community Project, which became a registered community interest company in 2023. 

Initially set up to address food poverty in the area, it has grown to become a vital resource for dozens of local residents. 

On Saturday, November 2, the team celebrated the opening of their first bricks-and-mortar headquarters.

At the beginning, the idea was simple. 

Keen to create a lasting legacy to honour her late friend Benita Tanner, catering professional Mandy Harding teamed up with mum-of-six Ioni Drake to launch The Benita Project, offering up hot meals on a pay-as-you-feel basis to the local community. 

Once a month, they would take over the kitchen at South Molton’s YMCA, serving approximately 1,000 meals in their first year alone.

But over time, Mandy and Ioni realised that food poverty wasn’t the only issue that the town was facing. 

Like much of the country, it was also in the grip of a loneliness epidemic which had only worsened since the covid-19 lockdowns. 

And as word spread, more and more people began attending for The Benita Project’s meals, enjoying a source of both nourishment and community in exchange for whatever donations they could afford.

For some people, it meant their first social interaction in weeks.

Soon, it became clear that the once a month meals were not going to be sufficient. 

With the support of the local community and town officials, The Benita Project expanded rapidly across Devon. 

Now, they host events twice a month in South Molton and Barnstaple, as well as once a month in North Tawton, Kingskerswell, Ipplepen, Ilfracombe and Braunton. 

And this year, they have served more than 4,000 meals to date.

Back in June, the team were invited to cater for the Eden Project’s Big Lunch at South Molton Assembly rooms, serving up meals for 368 people. 

Alongside their regular community events, they offer hot meals for the town’s homeless population as well as hampers for vulnerable families, who are referred to them by local schools and social services. 

Recently, they also hosted a “carve-your-own” roast event, which proved a hit with all those who attended.

“Sometimes it can be difficult to break down barriers and encourage people to connect,” Ioni told the Gazette. 

“So we thought, what better way to get people talking then to have them physically break bread together?”

Building on their past successes, Mandy and Ioni are about to take things to the next level with the opening of their new premises at 1A East Street. 

Thanks to National Lottery funding, they have been able to rent the space for a year and have big plans for the weeks and months to come.

To help those struggling in the local community, they will be launching a programme of free courses, including life skills such as budgeting, finding housing, job hunting, and managing bills. 

And they will offer accredited courses for vocational training as well, helping people prepare for work via subjects such as food hygiene, childcare, and administration.

All in all, there are more than 40 courses scheduled to take place, with many more in the pipeline. 

And as the country adjusts to a new Budget, Mandy and Ioni hope to help pensioners navigate the complicated benefits system and claim any credits that they might be entitled to.

Meanwhile, the space will also enable the team to expand on their original mission to tackle food poverty. 

Thanks to a compact but well-equipped kitchen space, they will now be able to teach courses on healthy cooking for the time- and cash-poor — including one covering the growing trend for air fryer cooking.

“We think it’s really important that we’re community-driven,” Ioni explained. “We listen to what the people need and try to provide it. Our goal is to create an empowering space where kindness and understanding are valued and nobody is judged.”

The opening of the new space was well-attended by the local community, with Benita’s husband, daughter, and granddaughter present to celebrate the work being done in their late loved one’s name. 

Canapes and Bucks Fizz were served, and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement. Representatives from some of South Molton’s other community projects, such as Skate Molton, were also present, explaining how different teams are working together to improve the quality of life in the region.

Mandy and Ioni wish to thank their families, South Molton mayor Jacqui Footman, and South Molton Town Council for their support, along with the National Lottery, Kayleigh at KJR Flooring, Avo Craft Cafe, Exmoor Hardware, Nikki's Attic, Karolina Andreasova, Emily Abbott, and the team at Skate Molton.