A new community food grocer has opened its doors in Arnold to help residents have access to healthy, affordable food on a low budget.
Organised by housing provider Jigsaw Homes Midlands, the grocer welcomed its first customers at the Killisick Community Centre. It will run every Friday from 1pm – 2.30pm during term-time only and is open to people living within a two-mile radius of the community centre.
Around 35 residents attended and collected low-cost food boxes for £4 per household per week. The food boxes are delivered by Fareshare Midlands, a food redistribution charity, then prepared and organised by local volunteers.
Jigsaw’s neighbourhood engagement officer Martin Curtis held a consultation with residents last summer which showed an overwhelming need for the grocers to reopen after initially being run by Nottinghamshire County Council.
He then worked with Gedling Borough Council and Nottinghamshire County Council to find a space for the grocers at the centre on Killisick Road.
Martin Curtis said: “This is Jigsaw’s first grocers in Gedling, and it has already proved to be very popular. We hope that it will help households with the cost of living in this area as we have been able to do in other regions.”
Local resident and volunteer Antoinette Daws said: “It’s great to see the grocers open again and I know a lot of people will be keen to use it and their families will benefit.”
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke MBE said: “This is a really helpful initiative, and we are very pleased to have been able to work with our partners at Jigsaw Homes to find a suitable space at one of our community centres.
“These schemes, which support some of our most vulnerable families, are vital and we know it will make a real difference to people struggling with the cost of living. We would like to thank Jigsaw Homes and Fareshare Midlands for all of their hard work supporting families in the area.”
Any resident who would like to register or needs more information can e-mail martin.curtis@jigsawhomes.org.uk
