OHPP open The Hub Community Food Shop

As soon as stepped out of the car on arriving at the Old Hall People’s Partnership, The Hub Community Food Shop Launch, I knew this wasn’t going to be an average Tuesday morning!

The street was buzzing with locals who had come out to support the grand opening of the latest Community Food Hub, members of Walsall Council and partner agencies who, quite literally, were queuing to get in the door! Once inside, the recently refurbished community shop was packed to the rafters with supporters and shoppers all there to mark this momentous day.

The shelves were stocked with a variety of food items and pantry essentials that are sold at cost or low prices. Prices are displayed detailing what everything costs individually and, at the till, Denise and helpful volunteers were making sure everyone had enough bags to carry home their shopping!

Nicky, OHPP Admin and Finance Officer, told me that The Hub Community Food Shop had been born out of seeing a reliance on the Food Bank and the desire to help people move away from Food Banks and then help with financial budgeting. The backdrop to the corner where we were chatting has a Walsall Connected banner advertising the services that that service offers and it is hoped that the Hub, alongside the OHPP Community Centre in Wings Close, will also be a Walsall Connected Centre where drop-in sessions can take place for local residents. Costing just £3 per year for membership, users of the Hub Community Food Shop will get discounts at the Pass It On Project and be entered into a yearly raffle!

Cllr Garry Perry, after cutting the ribbon and announcing the Hub “open”, reiterated how this would be an important part of the community and a “dignified lifeline to a lot of people in the area due to people not being able to afford price rises across mainstream supermarkets”. Adding that, out of all the Community Hub launches he had attended so far, this one was the busiest! Having been an established part of the Bentely community for over 30 years, Denise and the team have always tried to put the needs of the people who use the services at the heart of everything they do.  And the turnout of supporters shows its importance.

This opening week sees the days and times of opening hours being trialled so they best meet the needs of the local residents; keep watching OHPP’s social media with updates for the regular days and times the Community Food Hub will be open.

We wish Denise and the team all the best with this new venture