WORK to show how hundreds of lives are being transformed at a Nelson mission has been showcased by the Church Urban Fund.

Not only is the area’s foodbank based at St Philip’s Grassroots Centre but the Leeds Road venture offers a range of confidence-building and computer literacy courses.

Over the past 12 months, the scheme has helped more than 350 people in the community.

Now film-makers from the Church Urban Fund have compiled a promotional video which has been placed on the organisation’s website to highlight areas of good practice.

The five-minute film looks at the people who use and work at the centre, which opened in 2006.

They include Kirsty who had a difficult upbringing and suffered from low self-esteem.

Her life has been turned round by confidence-building courses at the centre and she now works there as a volunteer.

Others featured include Roland who was helped by the centre after finding it hard to make ends meet after an illness laid him low and Deborah who has trained on how to use a computer.

Suzanne Waddicor, the centre’s project manager, who features in the film, said: “I hope the film will highlight the continuing need for our support in the heart of our poorest communities and will hopefully raise awareness of issues around poverty that will inspire more churches to get involved and make a difference.

“Poverty affects people in different ways, but it affects every part of their lives.

“We try to empower people to move forward.”

Ed Saville, Blackburn Diocese’s lead officer for social responsibility, added: “This is a place of mission as well as a place of service."

The filming took place as CUF supports Together Lancashire, a partnership between the Church of England in Lancashire (Blackburn Diocese), Lancashire Methodist District.