Grocers aim for cost-of-living help 'with dignity'

The team behind a community grocery shop opening in a Surrey town for the first time say they want to "restore dignity" for shoppers while helping those in need with low-cost groceries.

Woking Community Grocery, based at Welcome Church, is holding its opening event, aiming to offer significantly discounted food to those struggling with the cost of living.

Darren Green, who works at the shop, said that he wanted shoppers to "feel like it is a normal shopping experience".

"It's something that would have greatly benefited my family when I was growing up," he told BBC Radio Surrey.

Green added: "It's really important that people can shop here with dignity.

"I hope people can now experience that support that has been lacking."

At the grocery shop, members pay £5 a year to join and can then shop at a heavily discounted price with produce provided by groups including the FareShare charity.

The shop aims to act as a mix between a food bank and a supermarket, helping people with the cost of living while maintaining a shopping experience, its organisers said.

The grocery runs 35 similar community stores across the UK.

Dub Everitt, one of the pastors at Welcome Church, said that the grocers were not means-tested, meaning anyone struggling can join.

About 250 people have signed up for the service ahead of its opening event on Thursday, he said, with the shop anticipating that more than 1,000 families would join the service in the first year.

"We discovered we are brilliant with short term emergency food, but long-term, reliable discounted food just wasn't there", Everitt said.

"It's a beautiful store and lovely environment which will restore dignity for people."