TK Maxx Lisburn

LCC Community Trust supports the Lisburn community in times of crisis. Our services focus on food poverty and finance, but we work holistically with people from diverse backgrounds to support their mental, emotional and spiritual needs as well. Our initiatives include Lisburn Foodbank (emergency food support and signposting for individuals and families in crisis),Kickstart Social Supermarket (a 12-week programme of wraparound support for those experiencing ongoing food poverty) and Community Money Advice (financial inclusion support and training, debt advice and budgeting support) as well as other social and wellbeing events and activities. We work with over 80 local statutory and community care providers, including community Health and Social Services teams, Housing Executive, Simon Community, Probation Service, Women’s Aid, Society of St Vincent DePaul and local elected representatives, who can refer service-users they have identified as in need of food support or financial inclusion. Referrers provide brief details of clients’ financial, health and social circumstances via a secure referral e-portal to enable us to identify the appropriate support offer. Where emergency food support is needed, a voucher can be issued directly, while ongoing support needs are assessed through an initial interview with support staff. Fresh food, fruit and vegetables are available for Foodbank users and Social Supermarket members at no charge to supplement ‘store cupboard’ items provided in emergency food parcels and subsidised social supermarket groceries respectively. As well as addressing crisis and ongoing food poverty, access to free fruit and vegetables gives choice and dignity to our clients and helps promote healthy eating, supporting better physical and mental health. Any fresh produce left over from Foodbank and Social Supermarket users is used to prepare meals and snacks for social and wellbeing events and activities such as community lunches and healthy cooking courses. These activities provide holistic support for people offering social inclusion, access to healthy meals and new skills, again promoting physical and mental wellbeing.