Community pantries
The pantries are a medium to long-term solution that aim to provide affordable subsidised food from across all food groups, including a wide selection of store cupboard essentials, chilled, frozen, and fresh fruit & vegetables. Other essential items including a small selection of cleaning products and toiletries are also available.
In addition to food, the Community Pantries offer a safe space for those at a point of crisis to engage with Citizens Advice support workers in Bedworth, Rugby, and Nuneaton, or South Warwickshire. Citizens Advice can help to resolve underlying causes of individual situations such as debt, income maximisation, health, and other concerns. The County Council’s Family Information Service is also available to signpost individuals to family and children-related support.
How it works
Access to use a Community Pantry can be made by a self-referral from an individual in need, or a referral made through doctors and medical clinics, social services, advice services, welfare teams in schools, or other referral agencies. The friendly and supportive Community Pantry team will then carry out an initial assessment with the individual to identify the most appropriate holistic support available to help to meet their needs.
Use of a Community Pantry is available for a small membership fee of £5 per visit, and members will have the opportunity to select from a choice of food each week for 6 months, whilst being encouraged to engage with the support provided by the wrap around services available. The Community Pantries can be found at the following locations:
- Camp Hill (Mobile) Community Pantry on Cedar Road, Camp Hill, Nuneaton, CV10 9DL. Open on Fridays 9:30am to 1pm.
- Lillington Community Pantry on Pound Lane, Leamington Spa CV32 7RT. Open on Thursdays and Fridays 11am to 3pm.
The following additional support services are currently available at each of the Community Pantry locations:
- Camp Hill (Mobile) Community Pantry: Citizens Advice.
- Lillington Community Pantry: Act on Energy, Adult Education, Baby Basics, Brunswick Hub, Citizens Advice, Food bank, Fuel Bank, Helping Hands, Homes for Ukraine, Kenilworth Lions, Love Lillington, Motor Museum craft packs, New Hope Counselling, P3, St Basils Housing Support, Warwickshire Skills Hub, and WCC’s Libraries Service.
Citizens Advice works with pantry members to address debt and advise on benefits to help maximise incomes for those who are experiencing difficult situations. At the moment income maximisation is particularly being achieved in relation to disability related benefits. However, the service is anticipating the debt of members will increase over the winter due to increasing energy pressures and issues arising from mortgage interest payments.
For more information about how to receive help or to volunteer at a Community Pantry, please phone 01926 350 800 or email hello@thecommunitypantry.org.uk.