Cost-of-living struggles inspire Community Cupboard
Source: BBC ·
New social supermarket offers cheaper groceries with dignity and choice.
From the source
Thomas Cliffe and Laura Steele welcomed customers into the store for the first time on Monday "Instead of going to a food bank, being handed a bag and getting back home then finding out that they won't use all those items, at least here they can buy the tokens and shop around for the items they would choose to buy." Founder Thomas Cliffe hopes the first "social supermarket" in Newcastle-under-Lyme, designed to help people struggling with the cost of living, will offer the "freedom to shop with dignity". Set up by Community Cupboard NUL CIC, the store allows members to buy groceries at cost price or below, with more choice than other outlets. Cliffe said the idea was inspired by his own experience after leaving work because of anxiety. Although his wife was still employed, he said the couple struggled financially and found they were unable to access some forms of support. "It was horrible because you start to panic and think: 'What am I supposed to do? Where am I going to get the next…