A NEW type of foodbank is coming to Burnley next month which will allow struggling families to pay just £3.50 for their weekly shops.

The Burnley Community Grocery, which will be located on Valley Street, looks like a regular store and will give families choice and “dignity” as they shop for and choose items for themselves.

The aim of the store is to bring down the cost of the weekly shop and give wrap-around support for the people of Burnley.

The Message Trust, in partnership with Life Church Lancashire, will be launching the new store on 20 April.

With this Community Grocery, people pay £5 a year to become members and then pay £3.50 per shop and are able to shop twice a week.

A spokesperson said: “We are excited to announce that our Community Grocery will be opening at the end of April 2022 at Valley Street Community Centre in South West Burnley.

"Customers choose from a selection of food items as we seek to lift people out of food poverty and give them dignity as they shop.

“Daniella Steenbergen will take the role of manager with Tom Blackledge operating as the Assistant Manager.”

It’s not the first Community Grocery to be rolled out across the North West.

During the summer of 2020, The Message Trust were moved to respond to the huge need the pandemic was creating by establishing a Community Grocery in Wythenshawe, Manchester.

The goal was to address food poverty in the community and also seek to introduce people to Jesus and connect them with a local church.

Inside the Community Grocery shop in Whythenshaw. (Photo: Facebook/@communitygrocery)

 

Now, over 2,000 people are members of Community Grocery in Wythenshawe and the model has been rolled out in various other locations across the UK.

Towards the end of 2020, Life Church began to talk with other churches and organisations about bringing a Community Grocery to Burnley in partnership with The Message Trust.

Father Alex Frost, vicar of St Matthew’s Church in Burnley, has been operating a food bank from the church until this new project could launch.

In light of the new shop opening, he has made the decision to “bring the current food bank to a close”.

He said: “St Matthew's was only ever intending to run the foodbank until the grocery launched and I'm delighted that we have been able to continue this support for the additional twelve months.

“From the 26 March a decision has been taken to bring our food bank at St Matthew's to a close as the grocery launches.

“It our intention to continue to support the grocery with donations and support as much as we possibly can both with finance and produce.

“It's important to state this is not the end of supporting the most vulnerable people in our community.

“It is also our intention to keep collecting donations and direct food donations to the grocery whilst also ensuring we hold a modest availability of produce for emergencies.”

From 20 April, the Burnley Community Grocery will be open Monday - Friday from 9.30am – 4.30pm.

You can read more about Community Grocery at www.communitygrocery.org.uk. You can also keep up-to-date with the charity on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CommunityGroceryBurnley