Sainsbury's Cheltenham Cirencester Road Local

The St Michael's Cornerstone Trust exists to support the people of the Lynworth, Priors and Whaddon area of Cheltenham. We focus in particular on the relief of poverty, the advancement of education, the maintenance and improvement of public amenities and the provision of leisure facilities in the interests of social welfare. We run a coffee shop offering affordable hot and cold drinks which serves as a local hub, alongside a charity shop, a reasonably priced laundry service and free access IT facilities. In addition to this we run lots of different groups throughout the week - an art group, a homework club, a Boccia group, coffee mornings, soup lunch, a toddler group, a board games group, bingo sessions, and a knit and natter group. In addition we also rent out our facilities to local businesses and so also offer an over 50s fitness class and a chiropodist's services. Our facilities are also hired by local counselors from various agencies to see clients. Being community minded, we have facilitated having a community defibrillator fitted on to the local shop, and are involved in providing trained staff to supplement this. We are now setting up a Food Pantry service, to provide food for local families and individuals in need. We want to be able to provide an holistic service to people in need in our locality, including additional support as well as the basic food, in order to help reduce inequality and poverty in our area of Cheltenham.

The aim of the Pantry Project is to provide those living in poverty with an alternative to the standard food parcel with more choice, healthier options and on a low cost membership basis. For £4.00 per week, clients can take home approximately £15 worth of food and essential household items with fresh produce and other groceries free when available. The CCP Pantry is open Wednesday and Thursday from 10am - 2pm & Friday 9am - 12pm.

Our sharing shed has been created to spread some positivity. We want the space to get our community talking, sharing and reducing waste. The Sharing Shed will be stocked with food, toiletries and sensory resources that would have otherwise been surplus to requirements. These are ALL FREE. A place where people and businesses can donate to but most important of all - The Bettridge school community, inclusive of staff and external professionals accessing the site can pick up whatever they may need, when they need it. A shed filled with amazing goods, community signposting and a sharing of knowledge that will better connect our families to the community and vise versa.