Over the last few yers our food pantry network has grown to 8 food and 2 pop-up pantries across Wigan with 2,800 members which are often households and fully run by volunteers. Our pantries helped save over £400,000 for their members last year. The pantries operate in existing local community facilities and deliver common outcomes across the partners - relieving food poverty and offering community. Wigan Deanery Trust are providing the infrastructure and systems to implement and manage the project. Churches have recruited volunteers to run the pantries and Wigan Borough Council promotes the service. Larger one-off individual donations and a grant from Together Liverpool and Feeding Britain have covered the start-up costs of some of our pantries. The partnership provides access to funding, product and volunteer resources that would not be available to individual organisations.
The pantries are committed to sustainably feeding the people of Wigan while removing the stigma associated with foodbanks. Everyone is welcome, with no referral required yet often enabled through the Council’s Welfare team vouchers. Members can select food items that meet their preferences and dietary needs. The annual membership fee is £5, with exemptions available, and members can shop up to twice a week for a £3 donation.
We intercept food that would otherwise be removed from the human consumption chain, or we buy it from organisations who do the same making it available in the pantries therefore reducing landfill. The pantries also offer opportunities connection and community through pay-as-you-feel cafes, warm spaces and small groups.
Our Lifted Van funded by Haigh Benefits Trust and supported by Alpha Motors can be seen all across Wigan collecting intercepted food.