Community Shop, the award-winning social supermarket, has reopened its Lambeth store for 2022, allowing it to support hundreds of people on the cusp of food poverty.
Refurbishment
Following a major refurbishment, many more members will have access to deeply discounted food and household products, mostly donated by major retailers and manufacturers, surplus for reasons like incorrect labelling and seasonal packaging. The store has been completely redecorated, and kitted out with new equipment to allow it to offer members more variety when they shop. The shop can also host more community events with redesigned outdoor space and a revamped Community Hub. The store site on Vale Street now has a bigger Community Kitchen with new chef mentors providing affordable freshly cooked meals.
Word from the Cabinet
Cllr Donatus Anyanwu, Lambeth Cabinet Member for Voluntary Sector and Leisure, said: “Lambeth’s Community Shop has offered hundreds of people on the cusp of food poverty support with food, employment and education for seven years – we are delighted to see them reopen for a new year with an even bigger and better offer.”
Community programmes and events
Community Shop members will also have access to a much wider range of support programmes to learn new skills and overcome barriers to employment or education. Anyone who lives locally, receives welfare support, and wants to make a positive change can apply for free membership.
More than twice the help
Natalie Brown, Head of Community Shop, said: “We’re re-opening Community Shop Lambeth on its anniversary. Over the last seven years since opening, the Community Shop team has made a tremendous difference to hundreds of people. This renovation will allow more than twice the number of members to benefit, helping inspire them to make positive changes in their lives.”
More information
Community Shop, the UK’s leading redistributor of surplus food and household products, is a network of eight social supermarket stores across some of the UK’s most deprived communities. They recently received a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise. Community Shop has actively supported:
- More than 10,000 members and families, as well as providing over 30 million low-cost meals
- 701 members back into employment, and 902 into further education
- 252 members through work placements or volunteering at Community Shop
- In 2020, Community Shop also had 257, 621 engagements via its Virtual Hub
More information on the Community Shop website or Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram
