‘GIVING people a hand up, not a hand out’ is at the heart of the Ards Social Supermarket as it supports local people and families facing food insecurity.
Based in Bangor Foodhub and Community Support (BCFS), at Balloo Avenue, this vital community lifeline aims to meet the needs of people living in the Ards area, from Newtownards, to Comber and Portaferry.
Older and younger people can visit the social supermarket, as part of a 12-week programme, and buy food, cleaning products and toiletries at discounted prices every fortnight.
The BCFS team will work alongside each of their clients during the 12 weeks delivering to each person an individual plan with specific goals, and they will complete budgeting courses as they build their resilience tool kit.
Ken Scott, BFCS manager, is hoping to raise awareness about this vital service and is appealing to more people from the Ards area to come forward.
He said: “We know there is the need and while we may never be able to cope with all that need, we would like to cope with more local people and families.”
He stressed the social supermarket programme is more than just food, it is a caring support system for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.
“We are trying to reach more people,” he said. “We know there is the need and while we may never be able to cope with all that need, we would like to cope with more local people and families.”
He stressed the social supermarket programme is more than just food, it is a caring support system for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.
He said: “We walk alongside our clients on their journey towards greater financial, emotional and social stability, working closely with local services to provide wrap-around support tailored to their needs.”
Explaining the difference between a foodbank and a social supermarket, Mr Scott said: “With a parcel from a foodbank you don’t have control over the items it contains, it is emergency food. At the social supermarket each client has an appointment time, they are treated confidentially, and each appointment is about 45 minutes. They also pay towards their food, so it is seen more as a hand up and not a hand out.”
He added: “Each client comes once a fortnight, there is a commitment from us to the client but we expect a commitment from the client to us, that they engage with debt management and budgeting workshops. We also do a benefit audit to each client to make sure they are getting the benefits they are entitled to.”
He went on to say: “As this is a 12-week programme, our team will journey with each client to make sure they feel they are getting all the benefits, support and help they need.
“We also run cookery classes with the guys from SERC (South Eastern Regional College) so it is a totally holistic approach to someone’s issues. What we often find is what starts as food insecurity, there is often a whole raft of issues below. It could be money lending, a family relationship breakdown or job loss.”
Mr Scott encouraged anyone facing food insecurity to contact their local community association or BCFS directly on telephone: 07821 791 674 and email: info@bangorni.foodbank.org.uk
