New food pantry opens in Salisbury city centre

Organised by the city council’s Communities Team, the pantry was originally operating out of the Friary Community Centre and Bemerton Heath Centre, with the support of Anybody Can Cook.

It has now moved to Catherine Street - where the the old lighting workshop used to be - and has been open to new and existing members since Tuesday (April 20).

The Communities Team are now running the shop as part of a franchise operation run by Church Action on Poverty called ‘My Local Pantry’ who help people set up food shop based-schemes in their area.

'Sustainable and long-term solution to food poverty'

The Salisbury Pantry in the city centre

Local Pantry aims to create a "sustainable and long-term solution to food poverty" and work as a membership scheme.

Once signed up, members pay £5 per shop and select food and sundries worth up to £35.

Food is sourced from Fareshare, UK Harvest and from donations from local supermarkets Tesco, Tesco Metro and Waitrose.

The council have so far distributed 34 tonnes of food.

The Salisbury Pantry in the city centre

'Community resource'

Membership is open to any residents of Salisbury who are in receipt of benefits, on a low wage or struggling to buy food or pay bills towards the end of the month.

Pantries are not just about providing food, they are also places where people can ask for advice and be signposted to other sources of support.

The aim is to build the Salisbury Pantry as a community resource and a space where people can build their networks, confidence and sense of belonging in the community, with members also volunteering at the shop.

Wiltshire Community Foundation provided a grant to support the early version of this project and the Council has also received an additional £20,000 from the foundation to help fit out the shop and continue its operation.

The Salisbury Pantry in the city centre

One pantry member said: "This is only my 5th week as a member and I have been able to pay my council tax in full already. You sometimes have to choose which bills you pay and this means there are less hard choices”

Another said: “It looks so good. I didn’t realise it would be a proper shop. It feels good that you have made it like this, for us.”

The Salisbury Pantry is open Tuesdays only, from 10am-3pm.

For any inquiries about membership or volunteering email salisburypantry@salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk.

Shopping is for members only but residents in need of this support are able to sign up in store.

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