Newmarket Community Pantry Shop offers “dignity and hope” to people in poverty

14 Jan 2025

A community initiative has launched in Newmarket to help people who are struggling with food costs to support and empower them out of poverty.

The Community Pantry Shop has been launched by The Racing Centre with support from West Suffolk Council including £28,000 from money allocated to the council from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Unlike a food bank, people will become members and still pay for items from the Community Pantry Shop but at a much cheaper price than elsewhere. This is to help people to retain their dignity rather than feel they are surviving on handouts. The Community Panty Shop will sell affordable and nutritious food including fresh produce – helping people who are struggling financially to maintain a balanced diet.

And people buying from the Community Pantry Shop won’t just receive food – they will also get additional support to help their finances including access to benefits and to reduce household bills, so that they no longer need the Community Pantry Shop to be able to afford to eat. They will also receive recipe cards to help support their skills, confidence and self-esteem in making nutritious low-cost meals.

John Gilbert, Chief Executive of The Racing Centre, said: "Food poverty is a challenge that affects many in our community, and The Racing Centre is committed to making a difference. The Newmarket Community Pantry Shop is not just a place to access affordable food; it's a space where dignity is preserved, and choice is paramount. We are determined to offer a helping hand while empowering individuals to lead healthier, more stable lives.

“But this project is about more than just food. It's about building trust, fostering community connections, and promoting long-term change. By integrating programs like recipe cards and financial management advice, we aim to give people the tools they need to achieve independence and stability.”

The Community Pantry Shop is based on a similar initiative at the Bridge Community Church for residents of the Minden Ward in Bury St Edmunds where £3 allows people to buy 12 basic shelf items such as a can of food, five portions of fruit or vegetables, a frozen item and a bakery item. People can then buy additional items on top of their £3 shop.

Cllr Donna Higgins, Cabinet Member for Families and Communities at West Suffolk Council said: “The Community Pantry Shop is about recognising how difficult it is for people who are struggling to come forward for help. Often people don’t want a handout; they just want help through a challenging time in their lives.

“This brilliant scheme is already working well in Bury St Edmunds, allows people to buy a mix of nutritious low-cost food that will support their dignity, healthy eating and empower them with delicious affordable recipe ideas.

“But the longer-term goal is to support people, including with their finances, in an effort to help so that many of them may no longer need the pantry shop for support.

“While we need to work to tackle poverty at a national level, that will take time and locally, it is my hope that more charities and community organisations will adopt this model as a way of helping residents who are struggling.”

The Community Pantry Shop will be run by a manager and volunteers and supported through a mix of donations as well as low and reduced cost items from shops and supermarkets.

"At its heart, this project represents hope,” Mr Gilbert said. “It's a step forward for our community - a shared effort to ensure that everyone has access to the resources they need to thrive.”

The Community Pantry Shop will run alongside the Centre’s welcoming cafe and community hub, helping encourage friendships to reduce feelings of loneliness and social isolation.

For more on The Racing Centre and the Community Pantry Shop visit The Racing Centre website

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