A local food company delivering free ready meals to foodbanks and community projects in Carmarthenshire has been awarded a National Lottery grant of almost £10k.

SwperboxCIC will use the £9,760 funding to support the local community through the cost-of-living crisis with healthy, sustainable and free food boxes, which can be picked up from nine key locations across the county and heated quickly at home.

The Llandeilo based company was created in 2020 to combat the long term impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with the aim of creating sustainable careers, investing in community food education and supporting a network of Welsh food producers.

It is the brainchild of Welsh chefs, Alex Cook and Stuart Crichton formerly of Pink Peppercorn Food Co. and has national awards for their Modern Welsh and World Recipes – such as Welsh Street Food Champions, Best Main Dish at British Street Food Awards, Good Food Awards, Best of Welsh Business Awards, Welsh Start-Up of the Year Awards.

The latest project involves providing free meals to foodbanks, community projects and soup kitchens across the county, including the community meals freezer in the Nature Centre, the community canteen and kitchen Cegin Hedyn, both in Carmarthen, and the Pembrey Community Foodbank, amongst many more locations across the county.

"We are extremely grateful to be able to help feed our community," said Stuart Crichton, Head Chef at Swperbox CIC.

"Thank you to The National Lottery Community Fund for enabling us to help feed our the community with free, nutritious, and delicious ready meals, while also allowing us to support our local small-scale growers and community farmers."

The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded over £80,000 shared between community groups across Carmarthenshire in its latest round of grants. Many are using National Lottery money to tackle the rising costs of living.

John Rose, Wales Director at The National Lottery Community Fund said:  “It’s heartening to see the impact community groups make in people’s lives across communities Wales.

"We know that our grants are making a real difference as well as helping people to be connected, supported and to feel less isolated.

"We want groups across Wales to know we are here for them as the pressures mount from the increasing cost of living. We are working flexibly to ensure that National Lottery funding is continuing to reach people who need support.”