ALDI KNUTSFORD

Northwich Community Support operate a no food waste initiative with the option to provide additional support to those who may need it. The mix of people who visit is diverse. For some it helps prop up their finances. For others it’s a way to be greener. Less food waste = less landfill. We are staffed entirely by amazing but unpaid volunteers. Its something I’m proud to be part of and I consider volunteers and visitors to each hub to be part of our growing community of mutual support. We currently operate 3 weekly hubs in separate locations where donated food items are distributed to the community.

We are a Christian charity, working to prevent poverty and relieve its consequences in the WA16 and SK9 postcode areas of Cheshire East. We do this by offering two Food Banks, one in Knutsford and one in Handforth, as well as an affordable Pantry. We are so grateful for donations of non perishable food from local individual people, churches, organisations, businesses and supermarkets so that we can provide emergency food parcels to relieve immediate and urgent need. These donations also provide stock for our affordable Pantry which promotes dignity choice and hope for people who are struggling to make ends meet. The Pantry allows people to pay a membership fee of £6 every time they attend the Pantry and they can choose fresh, frozen, fridge and ambient food which is often worth up to £25. We work with local referral agencies including social prescribers, mental health workers and schools to ensure that the people who are in greatest need are referred to our services. We also work in partnership with Your Local Pantry who have set up over 120 Pantries across England and we are their first Pantry in Cheshire East. Our partnership working extends to the national charity Christians Against Poverty which facilitates us offering a wrap around service for individuals - helping them out of debt, equipping them via the Money course, Life Skills and Job Club (all free of charge). Rather than just being a sticking plaster of offering food, we want to support people to change their circumstances. In addition we run drop in Hope Centres where people can meet to share a meal and spend time in a caring and supportive environment, reducing social isolation. The food and drinks we offer here are all free of charge. We long to see people live independently and free from poverty and with the hope that is found in the Christian faith. We rely on a supply of non perishable and perishable food, groceries and personal items for those in immediate need of support.

We are a community response hub for the residents of Partington, Carrington and Warburton, working to ensure that every single member of our community is cared for. Whether this involves accessing healthy food, collecting prescriptions, feeding their pets, or financial support with utilities we want to make sure that no one is missed. We work to provide such services as food deliveries and donations, signposting to additional services and providing well-being checks where needed. In addition, over the coming weeks we will be opening a community shop to further support our local community, providing essential items such as healthy food and household cleaning products, at low cost to local residents. This is where we hope your support can come in as we look to continue supporting our community through weekly food parcels to those families with the greatest financial need and as we begin to stock the community shop.