Community grocer to help residents tackle the cost of living crisis

A new Community Grocer, aimed at supporting the local community has been launched in Tameside.

The Ashton Central Community Grocer based at the Holy Trinity Church and Community Centre on Dean Street, has been set up to help make the cost of living more manageable for hundreds of residents. 

This innovative project has been established by local housing provider Jigsaw Homes Tameside’s Neighbourhood Engagement Team in partnership with FareShare, a leading UK food redistribution charity.

Working in collaboration with dedicated volunteers from Ashton Pioneer Homes, local residents, and the staff from the Holy Trinity Community Centre, the grocer is set to make a real difference in the lives of the community by providing low cost food and helping to combat food waste.

The grocer will run every Monday from 1pm to 3pm, and everyone in the community is welcome to use it. It will be open alongside the Warm Hub, providing residents with a cosy space to socialise, engage in various activities and informative talks, all while staying warm and comfortable.

Minaz Aslam, Neighbourhood Engagement Officer at Jigsaw Homes said: "Lots of families are suffering hardship, and the cost of living is getting tougher. This initiative of operating a community grocer is a way for residents within the Ashton Central community to shop for their whole family at a fraction of the cost of a supermarket while also saving thousands of tonnes of food being wasted each year."

Sue Cox, Head of Neighbourhoods at Jigsaw Homes said: “The grocer is the first to open in the Ashton area and will be a much needed and valued community resource. The take up on the opening day has already highlighted that this is going to be a popular project.”