A CREWE church has delivered activity boxes to help people using foodbanks maintain a healthy lifestyle during the pandemic.

St Andrew's in Bedford Street has been taking part in the scheme delivered by Active Cheshire, a social enterprise tackling physical inactivity across the county, and funded by the Tackling Inequalities Emergency Fund.

The lunch programme is designed to encourage play and movement for families who use foodbanks and are facing hardship due to loss of employment through Covid-19.

Working in partnership with Active Cheshire, Crewe Town Council and Connected Communities the church has delivered 40 activity boxes to families accessing foodbank services.

Families have also received activity books to encourage play within the household or on an individual basis.

Active Cheshire says they identified a big demand for increased physical activity after undertaking research and consultation work in Crewe. This included among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities who were found to be less active.

Active Minds Lead from Active Cheshire, Roberta Pomponio said: "We want activity to be part of everyday life, especially during the global pandemic, to improve the lives of local people."

Project manager Becky Hurst said: "The activity packs were well received and have definitely increased activity amongst participants. We had great support from Active Cheshire throughout the whole process, particularly with our work with refugees and asylum seekers and with families."

The ethos of Active Cheshire is to encourage behavioural change in an increasingly inactive society.

Find out more about their work here.