Sainsbury's Stockport Stn Grand Central Sq Local

We are a community-led charity tackling poverty at its roots by empowering people and communities to overcome barriers and build sustainable futures. We support children, young people, adults, older people and families who experience multiple deprivation such as low income, unemployment, isolation, migration and disability. Through early intervention, tailored support and community-driven activities, we help people build resilience, develop skills and gain independence. Our work focuses on: 1. Advancing education and training so people gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to reach their potential. 2. Preventing and relieving hardship, sickness and distress through practical support, guidance and community-based programmes. 3. Promoting physical and mental wellbeing, helping people to live healthy, connected and fulfilling lives. 4. Championing equality, human rights and diversity so everyone feels valued, respected and included. 5. Supporting young people with mentoring, advice and opportunities that build life skills, confidence and independence. 6. Advancing environmental protection and sustainability by engaging communities in greener and more resilient ways of living. We are proud to be community-led and people-focused, working in partnership with schools, local authorities, funders, national organisations and neighbourhood groups. Each programme we deliver is shaped by local voices and designed to meet real community needs. Guided by our values of empowerment, inclusion, collaboration, innovation and accountability, we’re building stronger, fairer and more connected communities where everyone can thrive.

In 2013 it was noticed that there was a huge increase in the number of individuals and families accessing food banks in Stockport. We wanted to find a way to help before they reached the crisis point of needing emergency food parcels. This where we came up with the idea for Your Local Pantry. Penny Lane Pantry was launched in August 2013. with 150 memberships available. Members pay a small, weekly subscription fee of £2.50 and in return members can select at least 10 items from the pantry's shelves - often worth in excess of £15.00 at retail. The pantry stocks a wide range of goods including fresh fruit and vegetables, chilled and frozen, toiletries and all the usual store cupboard favourites. However, the pantry is more than just about food,. We offer local residents the opportunity to volunteer in the shop helping them to build confidence, gain new skills and attend training. 10 people have moved on to full time, paid employment thanks to the support the pantry offers. The pantry holds cookery courses and demonstrations encouraging people to try new things and cook their own recipes from scratch, using all the ingredients from the pantry. The pantry has proved so successful we know how 4 shops across Stockport, supporting over 600 members and staffed by 35 volunteers.

Drawing Board Productions Community Interest Company publishes hyperlocal not for profit community newspapers for Stockport and South Manchester and organises community events and initiatives to drive footfall to the local High Street areas, and support residents in need. Our latest initiative is to provide a Community Fridge for residents in need of support through the Cost of Living crisis. The Community Fridge will be available to all local residents in our 'Post' communities, and located at our base on Stanley Road. Fresh vegetables, tinned produce and bread will be available on a Monday and Thursday for residents to collect. Post newspapers enable communities to access trusted, positive, and relevant news and information, helping to tackle issues such as social isolation and loneliness, and ensuring residents are kept informed and better connected to their local area. Community organisations have seen a significant increase in members/volunteers, and engagement for their events and projects as a direct result of Post newspapers providing a free and accessible platform for them to reach residents. And new organisations have been formed following articles published in a Post community newspaper. Post community newspapers provide something a little bit different to more traditional newspapers – readers know they will be reading positive news, and news that is relevant to them as it’s from their local community. The papers are designed to support – whether that’s residents, community organisations or businesses – offering members of the communities they serve to be a part of their hyperlocal newspaper and offering everyone the opportunity to receive local news at no cost. What do we need? - Post newspapers are not for profit publications and we are not funded by any external organisations. We have to apply for any funding we need, and competition for funding is fierce given the current climate with cost of living challenges, limited funding resources and a growing number of community-led support services needing support. Our community publications will only survive if businesses advertise and the community continue their generous support through donations. - We are also keen to build our pool of volunteer delivery supporters who deliver to their street and surrounding areas in our 'Post' communities and ensure their neighbours have access to reliable, trusted, printed local news. - Finally, we need to build a steady reserve of produce for our Community Fridge to ensure our residents in need always have access to healthy, good quality products. Thank you for any support you can offer.