Community Shop: discount food retailer offering learning and development programmes to open in Barnsley

Community Shop sells surplus products which are still good to eat or use that have been donated by major retailers, brands and manufacturers. The products are deemed ‘surplus’ for reasons such as incorrect labelling or seasonal packaging, meaning they may otherwise have gone to waste.

Over the last 10 years, Community Shop has supported over 61,000 families and helped them save more than £51m on their shopping, creating the equivalent of 30.4m meals from surplus food.

Gary Stott, executive chairman of Community Shop, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be bringing Community Shop to Hoyland. With the continuing cost of living challenges, this store will make an enormous difference to those who may be struggling to put food on the table.

“However, the store’s impact will go far beyond just deeply discounted food. By providing life-changing development programmes, this new Community Shop will equip individuals and the local community with the skills and knowledge needed to create long-term aspirational change. In the 10 years since we opened Community Shop Goldthorpe, we have seen people thrive.”

Revenue raised in the store will be re-invested back into the local area through the store’s Community Hub, which will offer personal development programmes. Over the last decade the Community Hubs have delivered over 175,000 learning and development programmes, offering a mix of skills training and personal mentoring, with over 5,000 new skills and qualifications gained, and more than 2,500 people returning to employment as a result.

The store will also house a Community Kitchen, offering low-cost hot meals. Kids eat for free in the kitchens which, since Community Shop began in 2013, have served more than 800,000 free kids meals.