A BICESTER charity that supports people struggling to make ends meet is celebrating a cash boost.

Bicester Foodbank won £3,000 as part of the national Lloyd’s Bank Community Fund initiative to support good causes.

Part will be used to buy new storage cabinets and the rest will be banked until the charity finds a permanent home.

It comes as the charity, set up by Janet Ray seven years ago, is set to move to bigger premises and open five days a week.

It moved to a temporary unit in Minton Place, off Victoria Road, last month and is looking for a permanent home.

It used to be at Bicester Methodist Church Hall, Bell Lane.

Mrs Ray said: “It’s really brilliant after seven years of struggling in different places.

“We could not open any more in the Methodist hall as it’s just so busy with other things.

“Getting the Lloyd’s money is absolutely wonderful. It was a lot of hard work because we had to muster people to vote.

“I was absolutely thrilled when I heard we got it — it was all worth it.

“We will use some to pay for cupboards for the new unit and put the rest into the bank ready for when we move.”

Once again, the community helped provide food to help struggling families over Christmas.

Businesses gave towards festive hampers and parishioners at St Edburg’s Church donated new toys.

Staff at Plus One Personnel asked customers to donate items instead of sending Christmas cards.

Volunteers, including staff at Bicester Village, wrapped 90 children’s parcels.

An appeal at Tesco, Pingle Drive, Bicester, collected 101 boxes of food.