AN initiative created by Bow Congregational Church to help build relationships within the community has won a prestigious national award.

The Village Community Breakfast offers a free breakfast to welcome people into the church in a friendly and non-threatening environment, to enjoy a free meal and make new friends.

The church has been given a Congregational Federation Community Award for the initiative. The awards recognise local schemes that make a positive impact in their community. They are sponsored by Congregational and General Insurance, which has run a community award scheme for the past 15 years.

The Rev Colin Smallacombe attended the 40th assembly of the Congregational Federation in Dunfermline to receive the award and the £2,000 prize money.

He said: 'We're overjoyed to receive this recognition from the Congregational Federation and Congregational Insurance.

'When we set out with this project we wanted a scheme that was open to all and engaged with the local community. We're so happy with the growth of our project.

'We see more visitors every time we hold the event and seeing new faces really motivates us, there's nothing better than sharing a meal together.

'We will use the much-needed prize money to update our kitchen facilities, buy vital equipment that we currently have to rent and invest in soft play equipment for the young children that sometimes attend with parents.'

Volunteers prepare a continental or full cooked breakfast for anyone wishing to drop in. Attendees have tripled since the first breakfast was held in 2009, with mums with school-age children, elderly members of the community and local tradesmen and farmers enjoying the meal.

Margaret Slater, marketing manager for Congregational, said: 'We're delighted to present this award to Bow Village Community Breakfast as the work that the volunteers do is clearly appreciated and of great value within the community.

'Providing a free meal in an informal atmosphere is an excellent way to encourage those who perhaps wouldn't normally attend church to drop in. They can meet old friends and neighbours as well as new, and keep up to date with what's happening in the local area.

'It's great to hear such a wide cross-section of the community mixing together and it's further proof that the church is providing an essential service to this community.'

The church began the quarterly event as part of a wider effort to build vital links with the community, which also included refurbishing areas of the church and holding informal lunches twice a year after the Sunday service.