New 'social supermarket' coming to Loughborough

Your Store will help people currently using foodbanks become more independent by offering food at discounted prices.

A 'social supermarket' is being launched in Charnwood to help people access affordable shopping and support.

Your Store is being created by a partnership involving Charnwood Borough Council, John Storer Charnwood, The Bridge and Charnwood Food Poverty Group.

Located at John Storer House in Loughborough, Your Store will help people currently using foodbanks become more independent by offering food at discounted prices. Support will also be offered across a wide range of areas including mental health, debt advice and budgeting.

Customers will initially be identified by the Charnwood Food Poverty Group and Your Store is aiming to open its doors to its first customers in August.

It is hoped the trial store in Loughborough will help around 300 households. It is a pilot scheme for a year and it is hoped Your Store will become self-sustaining over time through income from members shopping there, sponsorship and donations.

Alongside the shop at John Storer House there are plans for a number of weekly pop-up versions across the borough. Mountsorrel will be the first pop-up Your Store, which is being supported by Mountsorrel United Charities Relief in Need Fund

Cllr Leigh Harper-Davies, the Council’s lead member for community support and equalities, said: “We set up Charnwood Community Action with partners to help people during the pandemic. From the base at John Storer House we have distributed over 25,000 parcels to hundreds of people and families in the borough alongside the work of other members of the Food Poverty Group, ensuring people received this vital support.

“Foodbanks in the area will continue to offer that support but we now want to help people who are ready to become more independent with their shopping.

“Your Store will offer people weekly shops at discounted prices and each member will have a personal plan to help them with things like budgeting, health and wellbeing, adult learning, employment support and more.

“Your Store is about adding another layer of support for people to help them become more independent, particularly those so badly affected by the pandemic.

“I believe this is fantastic project which can really help a number of people take those difficult steps towards becoming more independent so they can move on with their lives. The Council is committed to creating healthy communities.”

The photo shows, from left, Paul Snape, Joe McSharry, Gemma Skevington, food poverty development officer at The Bridge, Cllr Leigh Harper-Davies, Karen Frostick and Verity Graham, neighbourhoods and partnerships manager at Charnwood Borough Council.