The United Reformed Church (URC) is hoping to raise £10,000 for its ‘Give Thanks for Your Vaccine’ fundraising campaign, developed with Christian Aid.

So far, £4,815 has been raised.

In the UK, nearly 18million people have had their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine. But for the poorest and most vulnerable communities across the world, there is little hope of a vaccine rollout. These are people who already face lack of water, food, and basic healthcare.

A church-based community service set up to distribute surplus food during the pandemic has just served up its 5,000th parcel.

Since the first lockdown began last March, Waste Not Want Not, based at Buxton United Reformed Church (URC), has given away thousands of pounds worth of food to the local community, some of which would have ended up in landfill.

The project is led by church member Cath Sterndale and her son Dan who first came up with the idea four years ago.

The deadline to enter the United Reformed Church (URC’s) 2021 Community Project Awards is fast approaching.

Run by the URC in collaboration with Congregational, one of the UK's leading church insurance providers, the awards recognise innovative community projects that have a positive effect on local communities.