Pop-up community food shop to open

A permanent shop will open soon. but the mobile unit will support families through the holidays, Caring Hearts said

A new pop-up community food shop is to open on Saturday to support families during the school holidays.

It has been set up in a mobile office unit in Ashmore Park in Wolverhampton by Caring Hearts which already runs a shop there offering pre-loved clothes, toys and household items.

There are plans for a permanent community shop at the site in Griffiths Drive but a temporary unit has been established for the holidays, Neil Rutter, manager of Caring Hearts said.

"We really want to help our local community access great food at great prices and, working with the council, we've been able to open this pop-up shop just in time to help families over the long-school summer holidays," he added.

"We have a large group of regular customers who come to the main shop for clothes, shoes, toys and a host of other items, so they can now get their groceries at the same time."

Residents must fill in a membership form and pay £5 to join, the city council said.

The shop joins several now set up in the city including the flagship Central Shop and Pomegranate Cafe at the Queen's Building in Victoria Square in the city centre.

They were established through the government's Household Support Fund and are run day-to-day by staff and volunteers at community centres and hubs like Caring Hearts community interest company, the council said.

Councillor Stephen Simkins, council leader, said he supported another shop opening for residents and praised the work of the volunteers.

"This is great timing and I congratulate Caring Hearts for creating this pop-up now while they wait for the permanent shop," he said.

"It shows how in tune they are with the people they serve and the understanding they have of how tough the summer holidays can be for some families."