A BAKERY has launched a £5,000 grant scheme to help charities and community groups get their bread and butter amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The family-run Village Bakery said it wants to give something back to communities across the North Wales counties which have helped it to become an award-winning success and recover from the devastating fire that tore through its Wrexham site last year.

According to managing director Robin Jones, the Village People’s Fund was set up after it became clear that many community groups, associations and charities are struggling to survive due to their fundraising activities being curtailed by coronavirus restrictions.

“The whole purpose of this is to help those clubs, societies, the local ones that don't get any funding so we can help them in a very practical way,” said Mr Jones.

“The pandemic has caused problems for everyone this year and we’re going to have a tough winter as a result of this second surge of the virus so perhaps this can be a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

"Our customers have supported us through good times and not so good times recently when one of our bakeries was destroyed by a fire last year.

“We were truly humbled by the genuine outpouring of love and support from our customers on social media and this is our way of saying thank you.”

Charities and groups can apply for the £5,000 grants by submitting 250 words about their work and what the funding would allow them to do.

The Village Bakery was a small bakery in Coedpoeth, Wrexham that was taken over by the Jones family in 1964. Its breads, rolls and pies are now stocked in independent shops across North Wales, Mid Wales and the Border counties, as well as larger retail stores such as Tesco, Spar, Co-op and Asda.

"The community is going through a tough time now because of Covid. Lots of organisations are struggling financially so this is a timely boost for lots of them,” added the Village Bakery’s HR manager Jason Page.

“In these dark days it's nice to give something back and give people a bit of a boost. There's nothing like being there when it counts.

“A lot in the community were there for us when we had our mishap last year and I think it's time to repay the favour."

Apply for funding by emailing your submission to the Village Bakery's Village People's Fund at villagepeoplesfund@villagebakery.co.uk