Rainworth community project tackling food poverty and stigma

The scheme is being launched at the Social Action Hub on Kirklington Road, on Monday, November 2, and will open on Mondays and Thursdays, from 11am-3pm, during term time.

The hub has already been running a Foodshare and Community Fridge project since 2017. During the height of the COVID crisis its volunteers supported over 1500 households and provided more than 8,000 meals.

The way the new scheme works is members sign up to use the social supermarket and pay a membership contribution to take away a basket of daily supplies for as little as £2 per visit. The supermarket is aiming to serve Rainworth, Blidworth and surrounding areas.

Amelia Betts, food scheme co-ordinator, said: "As food poverty continues to loom large for many households we have worked together with partners to develop a stigma free, sustainable solution to reducing food waste whilst tackling food poverty.

"There is no shame in asking for help, food poverty can affect people from all social backgrounds and ethnicity, for all kinds of reasons, but we are not just asking for people who are desperate, this is a new solution to provide low cost food whilst preventing waste.”

Membership contributions purchase items for another scheme, the Emergency Food Relief for households who are vulnerable, isolated or in need. That scheme provides free food parcels, medication collections and also befriending support.

Food and donations for both the Emergency Food Relief project (which is a separate scheme) and the Social Supermarket, are all being accepted. When making donations people are asked to stipulate which part of the project they want to donate to.

Membership packages include Pay As You Go; at £2 per visit, pay monthly £5 and pay yearly £50. Payments can be made online or in person.

Amelia added: "We are also looking for volunteers to support Team Foodshare, and for people looking to trial the Social Supermarket over the next few weeks.

"It’s thanks to Coalfield Regeneration Trust and support from the Feeding Britain Network and generosity of businesses, that we are pleased and proud to announce the launch.”

For more information on the social supermarket call 01623 490498 or text 07305 782569. Email enquiries to [email protected].