THE organisers of a foodbank and community cafe are hoping to take it out on the roads of West Oxfordshire in a bid to get to people in need.

Jo Cypher, 41, who runs the West Oxfordshire foodbank, which is based at Cottsway Housing Association headquarters in Witney, is looking for funds and support.

She and her team of foodbank volunteers are aiming to transport food to people in need and offer them a cup of tea and some cake at the same time.

The mother-of-four from Bampton said: “We want to be able to get to the people who can’t get to us.

“There are a lot of places in West Oxfordshire that are just hamlets or are villages that don’t have a regular bus route or a shop or post office.

“So the idea of a community cafe in those places would mean they can come to us and get a food parcel and a cup of tea at the same time.”

The foodbank staff ran a monthly cafe at the Leys pavilion in Witney last year and the idea is to make this mobile by buying a van and a trailer and the equipment to kit it out.

The profits of any sales of coffee and cake would go back into the foodbank.

Mrs Cypher said she needs people to come forward with offers of donations, sponsorship and equipment in order to get the venture off the ground.

She is also looking for a new team of volunteers to man the mobile service.

Since the foodbank opened in 2012, it has provided 1,646 food parcels to residents who have been referred by their GP, hospitals or community organisations.

The facility began life at Ducklington Baptist Chapel, but was forced to move when that church closed.

It then moved to the Elim Christian Fellowship, in West End, using a corner of the building, but increased demand meant it was taking up too much space and had to move out.

The group was then offered space in a garage in Hailey Road, owned by the nearby BP Cannon Pool Service Station, while it looked round for a larger, permanent home.

The 15-strong team of volunteers issued an appeal for new premises and Cottsway Housing offered space in its premises at Avenue Two off Station Lane.

Mrs Cypher said the Cottsway board is now in talks to build an extension at its HQ as a permanent home for the foodbank.

The foodbank is open on Mondays and Wednesdays, 10am-noon and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10am to 12.30pm.

To get involved or to donate call Jo Cypher on 07557 979384.