New opening date announced for Sunderland's social supermarket The Community Shop
There’s been a lot of interest in the transformation of a long-empty unit in Fawcett Street into a social supermarket.
However, there’s a bit longer to wait for the new Community Shop, with the opening put back from the original announced date of March 26 to April 8.
Building and fit out works are now in the final stages at 30-32 Fawcett Street - between The William Jameson JD Wetherspoon pub and the former city central library site - which was most recently home to the council’s customer centre, but has been empty for some years.
The new store is part of Company Shop Group, but its Community Shops are more geared towards helping low-income families and people.
The 16th Community Shop in the network, it’s being opened thanks to long-term partner Ocado Retail, whose UK Customer Hub is based in the city at The Beam.
Sunderland City Council and the Voluntary Sector Alliance are also supporting the store, which will sell deeply discounted food and households products, as well as providing life-changing support through its Community Hub and Community Kitchen.
It will be the latest new addition to Fawcett Street, which has seen a wave of new openings over the past few months, including Sunbucks Asian superstore, The Korean Spoon, Pepe’s and 24 North East Gallery.
Work is also ongoing to turn the former Havershams cafe into The Art Cafe.
Who is eligible to shop at Community Shop?
The shop operates on a membership basis and is free for people who live nearby and qualify for a means-tested benefit.
To join, apply online here https://www.companyshop.co.uk/join-community-shop/personal-details or get in touch in store when it opens.
Means-tested benefits include things like Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit, Tax Credits, Housing Benefit and Universal Credit.
What will be in the Community Shop?
Community Shop Fawcett Street will provide support to hundreds of local people and families through its three distinct but interconnected spaces:
*Community Store. The Community Store will provide access to deeply discounted food and household essentials, including its Plenty for 20 range which provides fruit, vegetables and bread for only 20p.
*Community Hub. Profits will be reinvested into the Community Hub, which will deliver life-changing holistic support and development programmes, empowering people across the local community to learn new skills and build their confidence.
*Community Kitchen. The Community Kitchen is a café that will enable people to connect with others and will offer home-cooked meals, with kids eating for free every day.