The Crossroads Community Hub has provided emergency food for an average of 100 families or individuals every month for the past 18 months, we want to continue this provision and alongside it, we are developing a 2nd aspect of food provision focusing on providing affordable fruit and vegetables for families living on a low income who are experiencing food poverty. This is called the Greenway Grocer. We will ‘pop up’ in areas where communities are meeting together and need has been identified in different areas of Chester along the Greenway Cycle Path. The increased availability of fruit and vegetables will also create an accessible option for families to redeem Healthy Start vouchers. Alongside this we shall also develop the Hub building so that we can welcome individuals into the building, providing a small cafe area and a place to welcome and build community. We began Phase 1 from August 2021 to April 2022 and we develop Phase 2 from April 2022 until March 2023

What we'll deliver:

• Families from 3 local schools accessing affordable fruit and veg
• Families needing emergency food receiving food parcels
• A small café area to provide a place of welcome
• A Project Co-ordinator to lead on the Hub's activities
• Volunteer opportunities for local residents to help support their community
• Wrap around services where we sign post vulnerable individuals and families to our partner organisations

Why it's a great idea:

In Cheshire West and Chester only 75% of eligible families receive the vouchers, we will work with the Welcome Network to promote the Greenway Grocer to families and the Healthy Start scheme. During the past ten years, an increasing number of people have become reliant on charitable food donations, with the local Foodbank reporting a 60% increase in the take-up of food vouchers and a doubling of outlets during the pandemic. Whilst processed, ambient food donations provide lifelines in crisis, people with lived experience of poverty identify the urgent need for affordable, nourishing fresh food which supports health and wellbeing. Developing the Community Hub will provide a safe and welcoming environment for the local community to use as well as accessing the food provision

Steps to get it done:

• the employment of the Bike Operator
• Working with local schools and community groups to provide fruit and veg
• Achieved Phase I by April 2022

We are partnering with Cheshire West Voluntary Action to explore how the Greenway Grocer could be "rolled out" across West Cheshire as a sustainable project for affordable food.