Dorset Tea has selected a charity teaching people to grow their own food and feed the community as its first ‘Communi-Tea’ partner.

The new initiative supports Dorset charities and good causes that need funding, awareness and, of course, tea.

The first recipient is Grounded Community, founded six years ago.

The Bournemouth-based charity’s main focus is education of local people around food growing and areas of sustainable living.

Dorset Tea’s £300 donation will enable Grounded Community to complete its outdoor kitchen space in The Secret Garden, behind St Clement’s Church in Boscombe.

The off-grid kitchen, part-funded by the Talbot Village Trust, has its own water irrigation and solar panel system providing a communal space for the charity’s 100 weekly volunteers, 20 families and community members to enjoy.

It’s considered essential to supporting the garden’s workshops and general volunteer sessions, held every Monday and Friday from 9am to 1pm.

Dorset Tea will also be supplying tea, where possible, for Grounded Community’s ‘Feed the Community’ project.

It works with local foodbanks across the BCP area to distribute much needed food and essentials to between 80 and 100 families in need.

Michael French, pictured, Grounded Community’s Founder and Projects Co-ordinator, said: “This donation from Dorset Tea means the world to us.

“The outdoor kitchen is a vital space for us to work with our volunteers, to host the local community, and events too.

“To be able to have this up and running will allow us to do so much more.

“It goes without saying, the tea will be so welcome for our Feed the Community project.

“We all know that people are struggling with rising food bills and the cost of living.

“Keeping up with these demands is our priority.

“Dorset Tea’s generosity means so much, not just to us, but to the whole Grounded Community and those that need our support the most.”

Lauren Forecast, Dorset Tea Brand Manager, pictured with Michael and Victoria Rose of VRPR, said: “We are delighted to provide the final funding to complete Grounded’s outdoor kitchen – a much-needed space for all the great work, education and support this garden provides to the local community.

“Tea always has a way of bringing people together and we are happy to be providing our cups of sunshine to the volunteers and local families fed through the ‘Feed our Community’ project.”

• Dorset Tea is looking to support a series of community charities and initiatives through Communi-Tea and you can nominate a local cause.

If you’re aware of any charities or good causes that need funding, awareness and tea then please get in touch at chat@dorsetteauk.co.uk.