Warrington’s Community Shop, one of the UK’s first social supermarkets, has revealed the importance of community and opportunity at a time when food insecurity is leading to increased social isolation.
Community Shop tackles the root causes of food insecurity and isolation across the UK, with a unique three-space model that is changing the lives of thousands of people by providing a hand up, not just a hand out – with a store, a café and community hub.
Over the last 12 months, the Bewsey store has helped members save £879,856 on their shopping, saved 336 tonnes of waste and delivered 700,388 meals.
These Impact Report numbers only tell part of the story, with recent research from Community Shop* exposing the mental health crisis that is being driven by food insecurity. With a third (32%) of people experiencing food insecurity saying it has negatively impacted their mental health, and three in ten (28%) saying it has affected their self-esteem, there is an urgent need to address the emotional and psychological impact of food insecurity; yet of the estimated 9.4 million people who have experienced food insecurity, more than a quarter (27%) say they have not used any support system at all.
Through its own member research, which surveys over 1,200 members each year, with additional qualitative research also undertaken Community Shop has a robust representation of the challenges people are facing and what they feel about the support that Community Shop provides:
- 89% of people using its services have experienced an increase sense of opportunity, giving them multiple opportunities to socialise.
- 92% said their social welfare has improved since using Community Shop.
- 95% said it has helped them to connect with other people.
Gary Stott, Executive Chairman of Community Shop, says: “The impact of food insecurity goes way beyond just having enough food to support yourself and your family, and the negative impact it can have on all aspects of people’s lives must be acknowledged and addressed. At the heart of Community Shop is a belief that with the right support, everyone has the power to shape their own future, even in the face of these challenges. Our research findings show that people need a variety of support options, from help with creating positive mental health to practical skills. Community Shop exists to help people make sense of their story and regain confidence in themselves and their potential, which is why we are honoured that our members wanted to share their stories as part of this year’s Impact Report.”
Over the last 12 months, Community Shop has helped more people in more communities than ever before, supporting over 36,000 families across the UK. Its Community Store provides dignified access to affordable food and household goods and has helped members save £12.7 million on their shopping bills. Profits from the Community Store are reinvested into its Community Hubs and Community Kitchens, enabling the social enterprise to deliver life-changing personal development opportunities.
In 2025 its Community Hubs have delivered 63,000 personal development programmes and helped 4,100 people into higher education opportunities. A further 4,000 people went through its ‘Progress Academy’ supporting them back into employment.
Through its Community Kitchens, 34,000 Cook Clubs were delivered helping people learn new skills and cook with confidence. At a time when families who are experiencing food insecurity are struggling more than ever, more than 180,000 free kids meals were provided in the Community Kitchens.
