Carryduff to launch its first social supermarket
A Co Down town is to launch its first social supermarket, which will provide everything from fresh, refrigerated, frozen and long-life foods and even nappies.
Local families have already begun to sign up to the programme in Carryduff, with the support of two housing associations engaging with tenants.
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council is supporting the Storehouse Trust through funding and training to provide food and essential goods to people facing financial difficulties.
In chambers, Councillor Brian Higginson said: “Back in September I had asked if there was under spend money to help support a social supermarket.
“I am now pleased to announce that the Storehouse Trust in Carryduff, will now launch the social supermarket before Christmas, but rolled out in a six week programme in January.
"We have engaged with Choice Housing and the NI Housing Executive who will be doing an outreach with their tenants and will also go out to the wider community too in Carryduff.
“We know it can be tight financially for people on the run up to Christmas, but it can be even tighter afterwards, so the social supermarket is being rolled out at the right time.”
In a social supermarket a small membership fee is paid each week, which then allows a member to choose food and essential products from the social supermarket shelves and receive additional wraparound services.
Storehouse Trust chairman Rab McPhilips said: “It is great news for the community to have the support of the council and we aim to be up and running in the new year with the social supermarket.
“At the moment we operate a foodbank in Killynure House, which is open to anyone who needs it without restriction.
"The new social supermarket will provide everything from fresh, refrigerated, frozen and long-life foods and even nappies. And for £15 a week a family of four will not only have food on the table, but will also have wrap-around support to help them manage the household.
“There can be a stigma around social supermarkets and foodbanks for some people and they can struggle sometimes to get the help they need. The social supermarket will help to give them that sense of worth and put them on the right road for the future.”