Local charity North Tyneside Disability Forum has officially opened the doors to its new affordable café supermarket this week.
According to national research* people with disabilities are most likely to experience food insecurity and access crisis support.
To tackle this, North Tyneside Disability Forum has secured funding from North Tyneside Council to open a vital new social supermarket where residents will pay just £5 for around £10 worth of shopping.
Fitted with fridges and freezers and shelves of tinned goods, the new store based in the charity’s site in Shiremoor will open each Monday between 11am and 1pm.
The opening times co-insides with the charity’s Warm Welcome too, meaning residents can grab their food shopping then head to the café to relax with a hot drink and a cake.
The charity knows first hand the impact food insecurity has on its service users. Alongside running a popular, affordable café on site, the team had experience offering emergency food parcels.
Dr Robert Dennis, Chairperson at North Tyneside Disability Forum, said: “With ten new families signing up that the opening session, we expect the social supermarket will be a fabulous addition to NTDF’s food insecurity work and it will enhance our Community Café’s work supporting local families in the current economic climate”
The opening of the social supermarket is the first of many in North Tyneside this year, following on from the launch of the Council’s Community Food Grant in which local organisations could access funding to open food support in their area.
Speaking after proudly opening the North Tyneside Disability Forums new supermarket, Dame Norma Redfearn DBE, Elected Mayor of North Tyneside Council, said: “Ensuring that all of our residents have fair access to affordable food is a real priority for us, we know that the cost of living is continuing to have a big impact on our communities and that many residents need extra support to access food and support.
“Charities like North Tyneside Disability Forum are at the heart of our communities, and they offer invaluable support to our residents and I’m delighted to have opened this new social supermarket.
“They already offer a great range of wrap around support for their service users including financial advice, guidance and support and this additional offer will enhance their offer even further.”
North Tyneside Disability Forum is a user led charity which supports people of all ages and their families who are disadvantaged by some aspect of disability, ill health or vulnerability. You can find out more here.
A full map of food support in North Tyneside is available here.
