What is a Community Shop?
The Community Shops were set up as a response to what we had previously learned around food support during the Covid pandemic. The feedback we received was that food options needed to be more sustainable and reflect the diversity of our residents and by giving better choice. This helps residents to be more resourceful with their incomes during the challenges linked to the cost of living.
The Community Shop model is about building resilience and not reliance, it delivers quality food products at sustainable prices for the shops and residents. The food product options in the shops are fresh, frozen and have a long shelf life, as well as toiletries and cleaning products. There is a good selection of products that will allow residents to make a range of healthy meals that supports growth and a healthy development, the addition of these shops allow residents to make healthy savings on their weekly outgoings.
Current shops
- Wolves Waste Not at Gatis Community Space
Gatis St , Wolverhampton , WV6 0ET
Wednesday: Open from 11am
Thursday: Open from 10am
- St Chads & St Marks Church - Surplus Food Market
Lime Street , Wolverhampton , WV3 0EX
Every Saturday from 12:30pm
- Big Venture Community Shop
17 Chesterton Road, Scotlands, WV10 8SP
Mon - 9.30am to 2.30pm
Tue - 9.30am to 2.30pm
Wed - 9.30am to 2.30pm & 5.30pm to 8.00 pm
Thur - 9.30am to 2.30pm
Fri - 9.30am to 12.30 pm
- Bilston Support Network Community Shop – Bilston Strengthening Families Hub
25 Market Way, Bilston, WV14 0DR
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday - 9.30am to 2.30pm
- Stratton Street Community Shop
Stratton Street Methodist Church Community Centre. Nine Elms Lane Park Village Wolverhampton, WV10 9AJ
Tuesday - 10am to 2.30pm
Wednesday - 10am to 5.30pm
Friday - 10am to 2.30pm
- Low Hill Community Shop
Kempthorne Avenue , Low Hill, WV10 9JJ
Monday 10am-1pm & 6pm to 7.15pm
Tuesday 10am-11.30am
Wednesday 11am to 1pm and 6pm till 7pm
Thursday - 11am to 1pm
- Eastfield Community Shop
Eastfield, Colliery Road, Wolverhampton, WV1 2QY
Tuesday 11am - 4pm
Wednesday 11am - 4pm
Thursday 11am - 4pm
Shops opening soon
- City Centre Community Shops
- Graiseley (venue to be confirmed)
Each Community Shop is run by volunteers and each establishment has a membership fee, which varies between venues. The shops offer great learning opportunities for individuals who lack confidence or skills and could lead to employment opportunities in the future.
Some shops only take cash, others take cash or card. The Healthy Start Cards scheme is currently being trialled in our Bilston shop, where families can spend their entitlement but also collect vitamins and drops under the Healthy Start programme. It is hoped there will be a Community Shop in all wards of Wolverhampton to ensure an inclusive model for all residents. We are aware that food banks and food pantries are still functioning in Wolverhampton, but we are also aware that nationally organisations are trying to move away from this model due to the levels of dependency it has created.
We are regularly collecting feedback from the shops so we can see what is going well, as well as looking at how we can work together to find positive solutions to any challenges that arise. Most importantly we are exploring options around sustainability of all the Community Shops.