I visited Community Shop within Centre4 earlier today. They have recently won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Promoting Opportunity category. I met with Daniel Wake, Regional Social Impact Manager, to learn more about the award and the work that the Community Shop does for people in the Nunsthorpe area.
I’m already familiar with the work Centre4 does in supporting its surrounding community, but it was a particularly eye-opening experience to be given a guided tour of Community Shop by Daniel to see their commitment and professionalism in supporting the community.
The Community Shop sells surplus food at a reduced price compared to many major supermarkets. The aim is to offer affordable food that’s still high quality to families and individuals who may be struggling financially. We spoke to a shopper who felt that the fruit and vegetables on offer in the shop were marvellous, a saving on their finances and a real help in general.
The Community Hub offers a range of courses and activities to lift up the community. The Hub offers courses in understanding finance and CV writing, amongst others. They also work with local organisations who come in and offer further practical support.
We also met with Becky, who works in Community Shop’s café as a Chef Mentor. The café runs clubs for children and families that aim to improve people’s culinary skills. Families can come along to learn new skills. The café is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 2:00pm.
Becky herself is a self-taught chef and already works closely with Butterflies nursery and Sevenhills Academy in not only teaching kids basic cooking skills and recipes, but how to budget for food as well. Doing so introduces kids to new food experiences they may not otherwise get at home. The clubs are free, and kids can take the ingredients that they use home with them. The centre also hosts afterschool clubs and holiday clubs.
Daniel also spoke of how keen The Community Shop is in involving different organisations with what they do, as well as getting some bespoke projects going. Anyone who may be interested in getting involved can contact Melanie Johnston, Membership Mentor for the Community Shop via email at [email protected] or by phone on 01472276995.
