On 6th April a new social supermarket opened its doors in Leicester.
Community Shop Leicester, which will support around 750 members, will offer surplus food and household products from major brands and retailers all at deeply discounted prices. Whilst there may not be a wide range of products available, the products are in-date and of the same quality you would find in a supermarket.
The store, which is one of nine across the UK, is free and open to people who live locally, receive welfare support, and are motivated to make a positive change in their lives.
The revenue raised from in-store sales is reinvested back into the local area via its Community Hub, where members can access personal development support, with sessions including everything from cookery clubs and home budgeting, to interview skills and business courses.
The store also features a Community Kitchen that serves delicious low-cost meals, with kids eating free every day, as well as a multi-purpose community space.
The store has been supported by several stakeholders including Leicester City Council, who provided the premises for the supermarket at a peppercorn rent. The site, which is in an ethnically diverse area, was specifically chosen because of the deprivation of the local people and the lack of other support in the area.
While the most obvious benefit of the shop is self-apparent, it prevents wasting of surplus food and products whilst helping people who may be struggling financially reduce their cost of shopping, spending a day with the members of the Community Shop highlighted other upsides.
One member pointed out, “I can now afford to be healthy as previously I could only afford to buy stuff from the reduced shelves and these never had fresh fruit and vegetables”.
Another said “ With the local cafes being too expensive, it is the only place in the area where we can meet up and have chat. I have bumped into people who I have not seen in years.” She also adde,d “Forme, this place is more than a shop, it is a place that brings the community together.”
A disabled member told us, as a result of the shop opening locally, she was no longer reliant on her son to get her shopping which has allowed her to be more independent.
These positive sentiments were reflected by local Councillor Vijay Riyat who said, “Given the recent rise in the cost of living, the Community Shop provides an essential service by ensuring families have access to food and household products at an affordable price.”
He went on to say, “Providing free meals to children is another important part of the community shop, especially as around 30%-40% of children in the city live in poverty.”
With the country in a cost-of-living catastrophe, and a government which admits things will get worse yet refuses to take significant measures, it may be up to local councils, charities and businesses to work together and find innovative solutions to offset the damages of this crisis.
The Community Shop embodies this by providing a fresh, unique approach to tackling problems locally as a community. If the early success of this enterprise continues there will be an appetite for more stores to open up across the country. Furthermore, given that economic pressures on individuals aren't likely to ease any time soon, we could see more innovative community-based ventures, where the main motive isn't profit but the benefit of society, popping up near us.
