ALDI MACCLESFIELD - SILK ROAD

We are a Community Hub in the heart of an area of deprivation in Macclesfield, Cheshire. Our purpose is to benefit the residents of Upton Priory and the surrounding area, without discrimination, by bringing together the residents, local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a joint effort to provide facilities, education and information in the interests of social welfare with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the residents. We run The CORE Pantry to soften high living costs with affordable food while creating a community hub. We offer 15 items of ambient and chilled food for £3.50 also offering additional fruit & vegetables and bread. We have a full timetable of activities for members of the local community of all ages, ranging from health and social activities for older people, coffee afternoons, commercial sports activities for younger people and open youth groups. We have a management team in place and a team of volunteers which means we are also in a position to adapt and support the local community as and when needs arise.

I have recently opened a Community Fridge which I run from my house. It is a new shed that contains a fridge, freezer and shelving so we can store foods correctly that can be used by the local people in our village and surrounding areas. I work closely with other local businesses in the village too. All the services I provide are free. Before Christmas my children and a couple of volunteers made up food boxes and delivered these to around 50 houses in our local village which everyone appreciated. We have around 100-150 people drop by each week that take the food, and certainly a demand for it in our area. We have a parish magazine that I was mentioned in last month and this next month now my shed is fully open(we’ve had a new tarmac drive) so had to just adjust and work round this!) they have written a piece about me to go in Aprils edition. Here are some photos attached of the shed and my little boy helping me in his wheel chair deliver the food boxes before Xmas. Also a photo of me with all the potatoes we saved from sainsburys before Xmas when the other charities were closed so they asked me if I could take them. Another photo attached of inside my shed with the fridge and freezer and the shelving - currently empty but will be full of bread later!

We are an zero waste group who focus on the following 3 main areas: *Community Gardening and Promotion of Grow Your Own *Recycling Over 35 Hard to Recycle Items *Surplus Food, Community Deli, Clothes and Household Items We support on average 150 people a day with food for free and offer clothes to people in need for free also. People from all backgrounds can access our community shop and no referral is needed. It is for all of our community. Donations are accepted but not mandatory and this is clear to all who visit us. Soon we will be opening our soup kicthen, which will be using our overstock of surplus vegetables.. We offer surplus food from our community shop 6 days a week. We have the first community fridge and freezer in Cheshire East. We also take surplus food from local growers of excess fruits & vegetables. Large litter picks are arranged each month. Money raised all goes back into making more green spaces within our town and surrounding areas, helping the local community, running the Hive and shop where we offer free classes and talks.