It has now been two months since the launch of The Community Grocery in Wythenshawe.
And as we head into the festive season at full speed, after what has been an undoubtedly turbulent year due to ongoing restrictions amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the services provided by this charity-led initiative could not be more vital.
At a time when the stigma around the use of food banks seems to be almost as high as the rates of unemployment and the level of economic struggle, The Community Grocery is here to help.
Its mission is simple, but profound.
The Community Grocery exists to bridge the gap between supermarkets and food banks to allow people left in a vulnerable position as a result of the pandemic to have independence and dignity.
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And it’s really taken off.
The shop – which is part of The Message Trust’s site in Sharston – has been overwhelmed by the response since opening, and during the first couple of months alone has had over 750 families sign up to use the grocery system each week.
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Of these members, over 100 register for debt relief courses and over 200 request mental health support.
If all of that wasn’t amazing enough as it is, The Community Grocery’s impact has also extended to protecting the environment, by managing to save a whopping 84 tonnes of surplus food that would have otherwise gone to landfill.
But just how did this groundbreaking initiative start though?
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Well, it turns out The Community Grocery is just one cog in the wheel of the lifesaving work that The Message Trust has been carrying out this past year.
With the pandemic sadly pushing families closer to the poverty line than ever before, what began as a move by The Message Trust to re-purpose its community kitchens to feed the most vulnerable members of the community while the hospitality industry was temporarily closed back in April, saw The Mess Cafe – the community cafe which gives training and employment to ex-offenders, or those at risk of offending – become a hub for preparing and providing healthy meals to children missing out on their free school lunches, with a total of 60,000 meals sent out to those who need them most.
The support didn’t stop there either.
After realising that the need for such services was only increasing, a more sustainable and long-term option was brought about, and so, The Community Grocery was born.
The Community Grocery is passionate about individuals maintaining agency and continuing to support the local community beyond their primary needs.
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A shopper who signs up for a membership not only has access to The Community Grocery, but can also make the most of a range of wider support services, including debt relief, mental health services, job clubs, and cooking and life skills classes, as well as exploring a selection of Christianity courses provided by The Message Trust.
And now, with a growing community of families signed up and a capacity of 1000 members, The Community Grocery is reaching out and encouraging those who live locally and may have recently lost their job, are entitled to the free school meals programme, or are simply just struggling, to access the support.
You can pop by the store anytime during opening hours – 9:30am – 4:30pm – and the team will walk you through your first £3 shop.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CH8K2QOHnJD/
Looking ahead to the future, The Community Grocery has now managed to successfully secure funding to expand its offering across the North West region and is committed to launching another four groceries around Greater Manchester over the next four months.
The Community Grocery team is “so pleased” to be able to further serve local people in partnership with churches in the community to provide more available space.
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And this also means there will be the opportunity for members to access the benefits of The Community Grocery across multiple locations over the next few months, so keep your eyes peeled and be sure to stay up to date on both Facebook and Instagram.
You can also find more information via The Community Grocery website here.
The Community Grocery, Message Enterprise Centre, Harper Road, Sharston, Manchester, M22 4RG.
Business
Tesco confirms it will review ‘unfair’ Clubcard rule after shopper complaints
Emily Sergeant
Tesco is said to be ‘actively reviewing’ one of the rules of its Clubcard loyalty scheme.
Following shopper complaints and long-term campaigning by consumer champion Which?, Tesco has announced that it will be looking into the rule that prevents shoppers under 18 years of age from signing up to its popular Clubcard loyalty scheme.
Which? research found that shoppers must be 18 or over to join loyalty schemes at Tesco, and other major supermarket chains like Lidl, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, and Waitrose, whereas at the at Co-op, you only need to be 16.
And then at the Co-op again, and also Sainsbury’s, if you’re added to a parent or guardian’s account, you can be even younger.
Meanwhile, over at popular high street drugstore chains Boots and Superdrug, you only need to be 13 to sign up to their popular loyalty schemes.
Tesco has confirmed it will review its ‘unfair’ Clubcard rule after shopper complaints / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
This discrepancy is why Which? has been urging supermarkets to lift ‘unfair’ restrictions on who can sign up to their loyalty schemes, saying it has ‘repeatedly called’ for action after revealing that millions of people are excluded from accessing lower prices at some of the UK’s biggest retailers due to age, address, or digital access requirements.
Tesco has said in a statement that it is ‘actively reviewing’ Tesco Clubcard with the intention of making it available to under-18s ‘this year’.
According to Which?, Tesco has been rather ‘vague’ on exactly when the change for under-18 shoppers might come into effect, but says customers who don’t have a Clubcard can still find value using its Aldi Price Match and Everyday Low Prices schemes.
“Which? research shows that the savings from Tesco Clubcard can be really significant, which is why access to them matters so much for shoppers trying to make ends meet,” commented Reena Sewraz, who is the Retail Editor at Which?.
“We’ve been putting pressure on Tesco for years now over its unfair policy of excluding young people, many of whom are struggling with the cost of living, so we’re glad [the supermarket] has listened.
“This is a big step in the right direction, provided it moves quickly to fully implement these changes.”
Featured Image – Tesco plc
Business
Plans officially submitted for ‘vibrant’ new food hall in Wythenshawe
Emily Sergeant
Are you feeling hungry? Good, because a new food hall is on the horizon.
That’s right – plans to transform Wythenshawe Civic have taken another exciting leap forward this week, as Manchester City Council and placemaker Muse have submitted a planning application to bring a brand-new food hall to the town.
Set to be housed within the three units next to the former Peacocks store – which has now been demolished – the new food hall will become a ‘vibrant’ destination for independent and local food vendors to attract people with ‘delicious and diverse’ offerings.
Developers also hope the new food hall will keep the suburban Manchester town’s centre ‘bustling’ throughout the day and into the evening.
The announcement that the new food hall is in the works comes as part of the already-announced plans for Wythenshawe Civic – with work to soon begin on everything from the public realm, and outside space, to the vacant office space above the existing Iceland-store, which will also be transformed into modern new workspace to support local start-ups and bring new jobs into the town centre.
Developers also recently submitted three separate applications to create 422 new affordable homes for social rent across three locations in the town centre.
“Listening to local people over the last year and more, we know that Wythenshawe residents want more from their town centre – more things to do, opportunities to spend time in Civic and night time attractions that give the area a lift and attract visitors,” commented Cllr Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council.
“This is the drive behind the Culture Hub. A place for local people with an interest in the arts to take part in creative activities, see a show or enjoy the cinema space – right in the heart of their community.
“This is another exciting chapter in the transformation of Wythenshawe Town Centre.”
Joel Chandler, who is the Senior Development Manager at Muse, added that developers are ‘moving at pace’ with plans to give the town centre the ‘regeneration it deserves’.
“The food hall will be a hive for a range of local outlets and will provide new spaces for the community to spend time in and give the town’s nighttime economy a major boost.”
Emily Sergeant -
27th November 2020 
