Community Shop is truly unique, and steps up to two of the biggest challenges we face as a country – food waste and food poverty.
Community Shop Stores typically have a membership of between 500 and 750, enabling us to develop good relationships with each individual that walks through the door. It also means we can educate all of our members about the food they are eating and why it has become surplus; helping to protect the brands our partners have worked hard to create.
Each member is enrolled on ‘The Success Plan’ in their first four weeks, helping them identify the barriers that are preventing them from reaching their goals and putting in place a strategy to address them. Our mentors then help to match up individuals with the support services that will help them to flourish.
Community Shop has helped many members make a positive change in their lives – whether that is finding work, achieving greater financial security, increasing their monthly savings, improving home budgeting, or building personal confidence and feeling more empowered. We’re delighted that a number of members who have completed training have already been able to find employment, and that the majority feel more positive about their future. Importantly we are seeing the positive impact of Community Shop resonating beyond our membership, with family and friends also feeling the benefit and getting inspired.